Updated: 03/04/2013 21:23 | By Agence France-Presse

China grave-robbers sold dead brides: media

Four people have been jailed in China for digging up corpses to sell as brides for traditional "ghost marriages" -- where dead single men are buried with a wife for the afterlife -- local reports said.

China grave-robbers sold dead brides: media

China grave-robbers sold dead brides: media

Marriage is an important part of Chinese society and, while the practice is increasingly rare, it is still kept up by some families whose young adult sons pass away before having a chance to wed.

Normally it is agreed between the families of the dead, but the Xian Evening News said the group "stole female corpses and after cleaning them, fabricated medical files for the deceased and sold them for a high price".

A court in the northern province of Shaanxi sentenced the four to terms between 28 and 32 months, it said, adding they "took advantage" of the "bad tradition" of ghost marriages in parts of Shaanxi and neighbouring Shanxi province.

Citing the court, the report said the gang made a total of 240,000 yuan ($39,000) from the sales of 10 corpses.

MORE REGIONAL NEWS

Latest Photo Galleries on xinmsn

NEWS VIDEOS

MORE NEWS VIDEOS

facebook recommendations

LIVE NEWS RADIO STREAMING

  • 938 Live
    938LIVE

    938LIVE is Singapore's only English news and talk station which transmits round the clock with an engaging and enticing spread of programmes on current affairs, health, business and lifestyle as well as news every half hour until midnight.

  • Capital 958
    Capital 958


    95.8FM城市频道的前身是"第三广播网"。上个世纪30年代末，新加坡就有中文广播，一路走来经过不少政治，社会局势的改变，中文广播在本地一直扮演举足轻重的角色。