Foreign Wife Leaves After Marital Dispute, Police Intervene

Source: OT-Team(G),霞浦县司法局

  On August 15, the Sansha Judicial Office, in collaboration with the Sansha Police Station in Xiapu County, Ningde City, Fujian Province, has successfully mediated a marriage dispute involving a foreigner, preventing the situation from escalating further.

  The incident began on August 12, 2024, when Mr. S reported to the Sansha Police Station that his wife had gone missing after an argument the previous night. He requested assistance from the police in locating her. The police quickly launched an investigation and found his wife on the evening of August 13 in a residential house in Sansha Town. However, she was emotionally distraught and adamantly refused to return home, leading to another intense confrontation between the couple. To prevent further escalation, the Sansha Judicial Office and the Sansha Police Station promptly activated a joint mediation mechanism to address the dispute.

  Through their investigation, the mediators discovered that Mr. S's wife, Ms. C, is a foreign national who married Mr. S in early 2023 through an introduction by a third party. The couple had no children, shared assets, or debts during their marriage. The frequent disputes between them were attributed to communication barriers and incompatible personalities, leading to Ms. C's departure from the home. Despite multiple efforts by the mediators and close relatives to reconcile the couple, both parties insisted that their marriage was irreparably broken and expressed their desire for a divorce. Mr. S demanded the return of the full bride price of over 160,000 RMB, while Ms. C was only willing to return 50,000 RMB.

  In response, the mediators provided legal explanations based on the relevant laws and regulations in the Civil Code of the People's Republic of China. They clarified that since the couple had registered their marriage, lived together, and Mr. S's payment of the bride price had not caused him financial hardship, his demand for the full return of the bride price lacked legal grounds. Mr. S agreed to lower his claim for the bride price. The mediators then considered the local customs of both parties, the timing and method of the bride price payment, the value of the assets, and the financial situations of both the payer and recipient. They persuaded Ms. C to increase the refund amount.

  After repeated mediation, the couple finally reached an agreement on the amount, method, and timeframe for the return of the bride price. They also agreed to dissolve their marriage through civil litigation once the payment was completed.