Chinese Court Apologizes for Wrongly Targeting Woman in Two-Year Ordeal
A woman in Langfang, Hebei Province, was mistakenly identified as a defendant in a civil case due to a homophonic name, leading to multiple summons and investigations over the course of two years. The woman, surnamed Yan, was repeatedly contacted by the Guangyang District People's Court in Langfang, despite her attempts to clarify that she was not the person involved in the case. The court's actions caused significant harm to her reputation and mental well-being.

4 June 2025
The incident began when Ms. Yan discovered that her personal information had been incorrectly linked to a civil lawsuit in the city of Langfang, Hebei Province. Despite having the same-sounding name as the defendant, Ms. Yan's identity card number and household registration address were different. However, the court's enforcement bureau repeatedly visited her workplace to investigate, causing negative consequences for her. Over the course of two years, Ms. Yan received multiple phone calls, texts, and letters from the court, requesting her to verify her identity. She clarified the situation multiple times, but the court's enforcement bureau continued to pursue her, even showing up at her workplace with a civil judgment document.
Ms. Yan stated that she did not know the plaintiff, Zhang, or the defendant, Yan, in the case and had no connection to them. She claimed that the court's actions were illegal and had caused her significant emotional distress and damage to her reputation. She demanded a formal apology and requested that the court take responsibility for their mistakes. After her story was reported by the media, the Langfang City Guangyang District People's Court sent a formal apology to Ms. Yan and expressed sincere apologies over the phone. Ms. Yan accepted the apology. An investigation by the relevant authorities later confirmed Ms. Yan's account of the events.
The case has sparked concerns about the court's handling of cases and the potential for mistakes to occur due to inadequate verification procedures. Many have pointed out that same name and surname are only one aspect, and that the court should have cross-checked Yan's identity card number and household registration information to confirm her identity. The fact that the court failed to do so and instead continued to harass Yan, even after she had clarified the situation multiple times, has led many to criticize the court's sloppy work and lack of attention to detail.
The controversy has highlighted the need for greater transparency and accountability in the court system, particularly in cases where individuals are wrongly accused or mistreated. The case has sparked calls for greater scrutiny of court procedures and for more effective mechanisms to be put in place to prevent similar mistakes from happening in the future. In light of these concerns, it is essential to re-examine the court's handling of the case and to ensure that all individuals involved are held accountable for their actions.
The apology from the Langfang Court, although belated, is a necessary step towards rectifying the mistakes of the past. Many people hope that this apology is not just a superficial gesture, but rather a genuine attempt to make amends and prevent similar errors from occurring in the future. To achieve this, it is essential to perfect the verification mechanism, ensuring that the rights of citizens are protected and the credibility of the judiciary is maintained. The incident has sparked widespread concern and outrage among the public, with many calling for greater accountability and reform within the judicial system.
Netizens have emphasized the need for the court to reflect on its mistakes and improve its verification mechanisms to prevent similar errors from happening again. The court should have strictly verified the identity of the parties involved from the outset, and the fact that they ignored such obvious differences is a clear indication of a significant work loophole. In light of this incident, it is crucial for the Langfang Court to take concrete steps to rectify its mistakes and prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. This includes perfecting its verification mechanisms, providing training to its personnel, and implementing measures to ensure that the rights of citizens are protected. Only through such efforts can the court restore the trust and credibility of the public and ensure that justice is served.
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