A woman in Manzhouli, Inner Mongolia, has won a lawsuit against her late husband’s mistress after uncovering proof of their affair while sorting through his belongings. The court has ordered the mistress, surnamed Qiao, to return about 330,000 yuan (approximately RM228,000) along with accrued interest.
According to Red Star News, the plaintiff, surnamed Zhang, married her husband Wang in December 2000. Wang died in a car accident in September 2021. Three years later, Qiao filed a lawsuit against Zhang and her daughter, claiming they should bear liability as Wang’s heirs since she was with him during the accident. While reviewing Wang’s personal effects, Zhang discovered two recorded phone calls between Wang and Qiao, during which Qiao repeatedly referred to Wang as “husband” in an affectionate tone.
Further investigation revealed that from 2015 to 2021, Wang had repeatedly transferred money to Qiao. The court found that the transactions included about 160,000 yuan via WeChat, another 160,000 yuan through bank transfers, and 6,521 yuan through Alipay—totaling roughly 330,000 yuan (about RM228,000).
Qiao argued that she had assisted Wang in business dealings, including opening a water plant, and had even provided him 300,000 yuan (about RM207,000) in cash. She claimed the transfers were reimbursements or payments for cooperation. However, the court ruled that Wang, during his marriage, had transferred marital assets without his wife’s consent, which amounted to an unlawful disposal of shared property. The amounts and nature of the transfers were also considered strong indicators of a romantic relationship.
The court further noted that Wang had purchased items such as pendants, flowers, and cosmetics from online platforms, which were delivered to Qiao’s residential community and invoiced under her name—evidence that their relationship went beyond normal friendship. Qiao’s defense that the accounts were operated by Wang himself was rejected due to lack of supporting evidence.
In its ruling, the court declared Wang’s transfers to Qiao invalid gifts, as they violated public order and good morals. Qiao was ordered to return the 330,000 yuan, with interest calculated from the date Zhang filed the lawsuit until full repayment. The judgment is a first-instance decision, and Qiao retains the right to appeal.
