China drink-driving suspect stages death with coffin, bogus burial to evade authorities

A drink-driving suspect in central China faked his death with the help of his family to evade prosecution before fleeing south.Prosecutors in Anyang, Henan province, recently revealed the case to mainland media outlets, sparking widespread online attention.In January last year, the man, surname Si, was arrested for drink-driving. Police later discovered that he had previously been penalised twice for driving without a license while intoxicated. He was released on bail pending investigation.Under Chinese law, drink-driving can be classified as dangerous driving, punishable by licence revocation, criminal detention ranging from one to six months, and a fine.Fearing imprisonment, Si devised a plan to fake his death. He later stated that mounting debts and his prior offences made him anxious that a conviction would jeopardise any chance of rebuilding his life.Under Chinese law, drink driving can be categorised as dangerous driving, punishable by licence suspension, imprisonment ranging from one to six months, and a fine. Photo: ShutterstockIn June last year, Si purchased a coffin, scattered empty medicine bottles throughout his home, held his breath, and used cooling equipment to chill his body, staging an apparent fatal overdose.His family claimed that his head was covered with a sheet because his face was “distorted” due to the drug overdose.Before nightfall, his mother and grandmother hastily buried the coffin, while Si fled to Yunnan province in southwestern China to seek employment.Police arrived after being notified of Si’s “death” but were unable to inspect the body since the coffin had already been buried.Suspicion arose among the police due to the family’s failure to seek emergency medical treatment and the advance purchase of the coffin.The photo above shows a grand funeral procession in the ancient town of Yongning, Fujian. Fearful of imprisonment, Si concocted a plan to fake his death. Photo: Getty ImagesInvestigators later found no hospital death certificate, cremation record, or evidence that Si’s household registration had been cancelled.Further ReadingRelatives and villagers also noted that his face had remained covered and that only his mother and grandmother had seen the body.After examining surveillance footage, bank transactions, and phone records, police concluded that Si was alive and initiated a manhunt.Si was arrested in April and sentenced the following month to five months of criminal detention and fined 20,000 yuan (US$3,000).On June 11, police launched criminal investigations into his mother and grandmother on suspicion of harbouring and shielding an offender.Despite China’s long-standing communal drinking traditions, the nation upholds a stringent, zero-tolerance policy regarding driving after alcohol consumption. Photo: Getty Images“Faking one’s death to evade the law is not only futile but can also result in further criminal liability,” the prosecutor handling the case stated to mainland media.The story has since gone viral on mainland social media, accumulating over 10 million views.One online observer commented: “Is it really so difficult not to drive after drinking? Si went to extraordinary lengths to avoid charges, only to be caught in the end.”“His family thought they were helping him, but they only made matters worse,” remarked another.