One man's home is no longer his castle
(Shanghai Daily)
Updated: 2005-12-16 15:08

Shi Ming was finally driven out of his former residence on Anshun Road on order of the Changning District People's Court after he broke into the house and lived there for nearly one year.

Shi lived in the house from childhood and the house was left to him by his grandparents. Shi divorced his wife, surnamed Yu, in 1998. In order to provide Yu and his daughter a stable life, Shi left the 40 square-meter apartment to them while he, a business man, didn't lack for accommodation.

Shi even went back to visit them sometimes. But as their daughter grew up, Yu finally decided to sell the apartment and move to a bigger one for a better environment. In June 2004, she sold the apartment to a retired teacher surnamed Lu for 350,000 yuan (US$43,210).

When Shi learned of the deal, he was furious. Shi felt the house had been bequeathed to him from generation to generation and could not be sold to others, said Jin Wenbin, a court official.

So Shi broke into the house and lived there with his mother before Lu found workers to redecorate the house. Lu filed an eviction suit with the court last year.

Shi said he didn't agree to sell.

"Shi said he regarded the house as his spiritual support even after the divorce," said Jin. "Selling a house is equal to discarding all the past memory, according to Shi."

After receiving the court ruling that he must move out, Shi refused to leave.