Latest news

Local authorities in Fangchenggang, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, confirmed that a woman, surnamed Hou, who used her husband's "administrative law enforcement" certificate to coerce a motorist into yielding on a narrow rural road, was punished with five days of administrative detention for violating the Public Security Administration Punishment Law, Langchao News reported on Wednesday. 

Hou is currently under administrative detention in Fangchenggang's detention center, from August 5 to 10, the Langchao News reported. 

Article 51 of the Public Security Administration Punishment Law stipulates that impersonating state agency staff or using other false identities to deceive or swindle shall result in detention of not less than 5 days but not more than 10 days, and may also incur a fine of up to 500 yuan ( $69.5). For minor cases, the penalty is detention of up to 5 days or a fine of up to 500 yuan. Impersonating military or police personnel for deception and swindling shall be subject to harsher punishment, according to The Paper. 

The incident has gained widespread attention online after the motorist, surnamed Li, on July 31, posted video clips showing the woman driving a Mercedes-Benz SUV, demanding that Li yield and threatening to show the certificate on July 22. 

During the encounter on July 22, she also revealed Li's surname and home address, rising speculation that Hou was a public official abusing her power. 

According to the investigation results made public by local authorities on August 3, the certificate belonged to the woman's husband, a firefighter at a local station, refuting rumors that Hou was a public sector employee. 

Hou, 28, works for a private auto equipment company in Qinzhou, Guangxi. Her parents are local villagers. Authorities said she used her husband's law enforcement certificate to intimidate Li, according to an official statement. 

The local fire rescue station has also launched an investigation into Hou's husband for failing to properly secure the certificate.

Local authorities said Hou and Li are distantly related and unacquainted. Their parents live about 800 meters apart. Hou's father, who was present during the incident, recognized Li and provided his information to his daughter. 

Authorities said neither Hou nor her father accessed law enforcement databases. No personal information was leaked through the internal public security query system occurred in this case. 

The official statement said that while the dispute began as a routine traffic incident, poor handling led to public misunderstanding,. And local authorities pledged to improve official conduct and mediation protocols.

Global Times