In September 2017, Su Xiangmao, the founder of the Chinese mobile software “WePhone,” jumped to his death. In a letter he left online, he pointed out that his ex-wife Di Xinxin had extorted ten million yuan and a property from him, even threatening to destroy WePhone, which he had founded single-handedly, ultimately driving him to desperation. The topic of “programmer forced to commit suicide due to marriage scam” has sparked widespread social concern.
According to the Chinese media Red Star News, on Monday the 25th, Di Xinxin has been transferred to court for suspicion of extortion. After her arrest, Di Xinxin has confessed and the amount involved in this case of suspected extortion is substantial. Di Xinxin may face a sentence of over 10 years. In addition, the trial date for this case is pending, and Su Xiangmao’s family may file a criminal-related civil lawsuit.
According to mainland Chinese law, extortion of public or private property in large amounts or through multiple instances is punishable by imprisonment for up to three years, detention, or control, and may also be fined. If the amount is substantial or there are other serious circumstances, the sentence could range from three to ten years of imprisonment, along with a fine. For particularly large amounts or other particularly serious circumstances, the sentence could be over ten years of imprisonment, along with a fine.
Previously, Chinese media reported that in September 2017, Su Xiangmao, the founder of WePhone, committed suicide by jumping off a building and left a suicide note linking his suicide to his ex-wife Di Xinxin.
According to Su Xiangmao’s suicide note, on March 30, 2017, the two met through a dating website; they obtained their marriage certificate on June 7 of the same year and completed divorce procedures on July 18 of the same year. The suicide note states, “The financial chain broke, and I am desperate,” mentioning that his ex-wife Di Xinxin extorted ten million yuan and a property from him, even threatening to destroy WePhone, which he had founded single-handedly, ultimately forcing him into a dead end.
In 2018, Su Xiangmao’s family filed a civil lawsuit, bringing Di Xinxin to court to request the revocation of nearly ten million yuan worth of gifts to Su Xiangmao and the return of nearly a million yuan in cash. In March 2023, the Chaoyang District Court in Beijing ruled in the first instance, ordering Di Xinxin to return nearly ten million yuan in cash and a car to Su Xiangmao’s family and revoke Di Xinxin’s personal ownership of two properties in Hainan and Beijing.
The first-instance judgment in the civil case of the divorce property dispute indicated that Di Xinxin had used coercion during the divorce process, causing Su Xiangmao to make involuntary statements out of fear, which met the legal characteristics of revocable acts. Di Xinxin was ordered to return 6.6 million yuan to Su Xiangmao’s family. In addition, the court ruled to revoke Di Xinxin’s personal ownership of the two houses in Hainan and Beijing.