Introduction
Li Shangxuan, a 31-year-old woman from Hebei province in northern China, endured a harrowing ordeal after marrying a man posing as a doctor during her rehabilitation. The man vanished with over 3.5 crore Indian rupees (approx. US$420,000), leaving her to raise their child alone.
Background: Accident and Rehabilitation
Li became paralysed from the waist down following a serious car accident in 2013. During her rehabilitation period, she connected with a man surnamed Ding, who claimed on social media to be a surgeon with medical training and hospital internship experience.
Relationship and Deception
Ding pursued Li persistently, and the two quickly fell in love. He proposed marriage, giving Li hope for a better future. When Li became pregnant, Ding assured her of superior healthcare and revealed he left his hospital job to start a business.
Li and her family, previously well-off from their own business, trusted Ding. After marriage, Ding frequently demanded money under the guise of business expenses. Li later revealed that Ding subjected her to verbal and physical abuse, coercing her into obtaining loans exceeding 3 million yuan.
Legal Troubles and Divorce
- Two months into the marriage, Ding was arrested on suspicion of rape but was released after borrowing money from Li.
- The couple divorced following the birth of their son; Ding relinquished custody.
- Ding then disappeared, cutting off all contact with Li and her family.
Discovery of Fraud
Li subsequently discovered that Ding had no medical degree or license and was expelled from his internship due to sexual harassment allegations. The business he claimed to run was a fraudulent operation, and he was already in debt when they married.
Current Situation and Legal Actions
Li has chosen to share her experience publicly to warn others about similar scams targeting vulnerable women. She has filed a lawsuit against Ding, with the trial scheduled to begin in June. Potential additional charges include abandonment and domestic abuse.
Currently, Li supports herself and her son through live-streaming and selling household goods online.
