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Chinese man stages car crash to kill son, 7, claims payout after dispute over wife’s infidelity

Following the staged accident, Zhang receives US$25,000 insurance payout and subsequently transfers US$4,200 to his cousin

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A Chinese father, conspired with his cousin to kill his seven-year-old son in a car accident to collect insurance money after a domestic dispute, was sentenced to death. Photo: Shutterstock
Zoey Zhang

A man in southeastern China, upset after discovering his wife’s affair, conspired with his cousin to kill his biological son in order to claim an insurance payout.

The Fujian Provincial Court recently released details of the case, which took place in 2020, drawing widespread attention online.

In April of that year, Zhang, from Sanming city in Fujian province, frequently argued with his wife over financial issues and her infidelity.

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In a fit of rage, he devised a plan to kill their seven-year-old son to claim the insurance money.

Zhang enlisted the help of his cousin, who worked as a truck driver. The cousin’s employer had reportedly taken out two large insurance policies on the truck.

A crane transfers containers from a cargo ship to trucks at Yangluo Port, the largest container hub along the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River, serving as a critical “gateway to the sea” for Central and Western China. Photo: EPA-EFE/Alex Plavevski
A crane transfers containers from a cargo ship to trucks at Yangluo Port, the largest container hub along the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River, serving as a critical “gateway to the sea” for Central and Western China. Photo: EPA-EFE/Alex Plavevski

In October of that year, Zhang parked his car on the road with his son inside and instructed the boy to get out and wait next to the vehicle.

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