A man in China allegedly staged his own death and funeral in a bid to escape legal consequences after he was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol.
Police in Hunan Province recently revealed details of the unusual case, which began in January when the man, identified only by his surname, Si, was stopped by officers and arrested for drunk driving.
Investigations showed that Si had previously been caught driving without a licence while intoxicated on two occasions. The latest offence meant he faced the possibility of a prison sentence.
While on bail, Si reportedly decided to avoid prosecution by creating a fake death with the help of his family members.
In June, he and his relatives carried out the plan. They purchased a coffin, while Si arranged the scene of his supposed death by scattering empty medicine bottles around his home. He also practised holding his breath and used cooling equipment to make it appear that his body had been preserved after a suspected drug overdose.
Neighbours later told police they had seen Si’s body, but his mother and grandmother reportedly covered his face with a cloth, claiming the drugs had damaged his appearance.
The fake funeral was held the same day. However, as the coffin was being buried, Si had already travelled to Yunnan Province to hide.
Police later became suspicious after discovering several inconsistencies in the story. The coffin had been purchased before Si’s supposed death, his family did not call emergency services or report the death to authorities, and no death certificate or mortuary record existed.
Authorities also found that neighbours had not actually seen Si’s face before the burial. Surveillance footage and bank records eventually confirmed that he was alive, leading police to launch a search for him.
Si was arrested earlier this month and later sentenced to five months of criminal detention. He was also fined 20,000 yuan (about $3,000).
Police have launched a separate investigation into Si’s mother and grandmother over allegations that they helped him evade authorities and sheltered an offender.
