Overview
- Zhu, a businesswoman in Chongqing, transferred 3 million yuan to her subordinate He’s wife, Chen, to facilitate the divorce and support their child.
- After living with He for about a year, Zhu ended the relationship and sued both He and Chen to reclaim the funds.
- A first-instance court initially sided with Zhu, calling the transfer an invalid gift that breached public order and good morals, and ordered a refund.
- The appellate court overturned that decision, finding Zhu failed to prove a personal gift and treating the payment as obligations He owed in the divorce and for child-rearing.
- Judges criticized Zhu’s use of wealth to hasten the divorce, and the case has drawn heavy criticism of her conduct on Chinese social media.