Party Secretary embezzles social security payments of 95-year-old man, causing him to commit suicide

A Henan Radio online reporter has received reports from numerous peasants: “Changzhuang Village, Xieji Township, Liangyuan District, Shangqiu City 95-year-old man angered by his social security payments (translator’s note: Wu Bao/”five guarantee” social security payment for impoverished peasants includes: food, clothing, shelter, health care and burial) being stolen for a year by his village Communist Party branch secretary, in anger jumped in a well and killed himself.”

Villager Tian Hongxing explained: “The old man who jumped in the well is named Tian Baoxing. He was 95 years old. His wife passed away many years ago. His only son was mentally retarde and died in May 2013. On the afternoon February 20 (the second day of the Lunar New Year), the old man jumped into the well and got stuck inside of it, with half his body in the water. By the time firefighters rescued him, he was still breathing and was immediately brought to Long March Hospital. After emergency treatment the old man’s condition was stabilized and at 10 p.m. he left the hospital. But he remained emotionally unstable, and didn’t eat or drink. He kept saying “I didn’t withdraw my money and can’t get it back.” On the evening of February 26, 2015 Tian Baoxing passed away.

Xieji Township Communist Party secretary and mayor Lu Xutao said: “Tian Baoxing applied for social security benefits in 2013. In 2014 his application was approved.” Shangqiu Municipal Bureau of Civil Affairs Social Security Section Chief Wang Tao said: “Social security payments are issued four times per year. Altogether the amount is ¥2,200. After the procedure is completed, the money is paid directly to the individual. According to law, social security payments cannot be used by anyone else.”

Tian Baoxing’s paternal male cousin Tian Baorong said: “On December 18, 2014, village Communist Party branch secretary Tian Fuchuan gave us Tian Baoxing’s social security card and said there was money in the account. That day we went to the bank and withdrew the money. We discovered that the card only had ¥90 on it. I told Tian Baoxing. After he learned this he was very angry. Who knew that he would get so upset that he would jump in a well and kill himself? Before he died, he kept repeating: “The money has been stolen, I can’t get it back.” His death was so unjust.(BOXUN Translation)