According to Southern Metropolis Daily, on 10/8, the Wei County People's Court in Hebei Province ruled that the woman was primarily responsible for the breakdown of the relationship and ordered her to return 180,000 CNY (over 650 million VND).
The initial judgment stated that the plaintiff, surnamed Ha, born in 2000, and the defendant, surnamed Guo, born in 2002, were introduced through mutual acquaintances and became engaged on 17/5/2021. They held a wedding ceremony on 4/3/2024, following local customs, but never officially registered their marriage. The couple experienced ongoing conflict and separated on 2/2. Due to a lack of affection before the marriage, they never consummated their relationship during the 11 months they lived together after the wedding.
"Guo constantly made excuses to leave the house. Occasionally, on holidays, she would stay overnight at my place, but we slept in separate beds. If I initiated intimacy, she would become furious and wouldn't let me touch her. I couldn't endure this marriage in name only any longer. Guo was clearly using marriage as a means to obtain money," Ha said.
Ha sued Guo and her parents, demanding the return of 255,300 CNY (over 930 million VND) in betrothal gifts.
Guo's lawyer argued that the amount Ha claimed was inaccurate, and that the couple separated on 18/3 because Ha and his mother forced Guo to leave their home. "This demonstrates that the plaintiff committed a serious offense, and the betrothal gifts do not need to be returned considering the circumstances," the lawyer stated.
Upon investigation, the court found that Ha had given a total of 204,000 CNY in betrothal gifts to Guo's family, of which 2,600 CNY had been returned. Additionally, Ha spent 21,400 CNY on gold jewelry, 8,900 CNY on a computer, and 6,500 CNY on a mobile phone for Guo.
Guo's dowry included a standing air conditioner, a washing machine, a refrigerator, a hot and cold water dispenser, a wardrobe, an electric bicycle, 10 sets of bedsheets, a down comforter, a silk blanket, 16 blankets, and 10 duvet covers.
The court determined that while Ha and Guo held a wedding ceremony, they were not truly husband and wife.
According to the judge, Chinese law prohibits exploiting marriage for financial gain, so in principle, betrothal gifts should be returned. However, in marital property disputes, both legal regulations and customary practices must be considered, including whether the couple cohabitated, the duration of cohabitation, and the faults of both parties. In this case, the court considered the significant fact that the plaintiff and defendant were not actually husband and wife.
Therefore, the court ruled that Guo and her parents must return 180,000 CNY in betrothal gifts to Ha. Guo was also permitted to retrieve her dowry from Ha's home.
Tue Anh
