Chinese boy, 10, sues father for return of his lucky Lunar New Year money
- Court orders father to repay his son’s red packet money with interest
- Child has rights over his own bank account, judge rules
A 10-year-old Chinese boy has successfully sued his father for the return of his lucky money.
It is a Lunar New Year tradition in China to give children money in red packets, known as hongbao. But when the unnamed child’s father, surnamed Su, withdrew the saved funds from the bank – with interest – his son took him to court.
The case was heard in the Baiyun District Court in Guangdong province, southern China, which recently ordered Su to return the money to his son.
According to a summary of the case published by the court on Weibo, China’s microblogging platform, Su had deposited 3,000 yuan (US$440) into the child’s bank account between February 2014 and March 2015. The money had been given to the boy in red packets.
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In March 2016, Su withdrew the entire amount, together with interest of 45 yuan, without his son’s permission.
According to the court’s post, the boy lived with Su until his mother, surnamed Huang, applied for custody in December 2015, which was granted in April the following year.
