A Chinese man identified as Chen was arrested in June after allegedly evading police for 24 years following a 2002 robbery in Yuhuan, Zhejiang province. Seven men were reported to have kidnapped a man and robbed him of money and valuables; six were arrested, while Chen escaped. In 2007, police were told that Chen had died in a traffic accident and closed the case, but the man who had died was later found to have been his younger twin brother, Deng.

According to the account, Chen took his brother’s identity nine days after Deng’s death and lived under his name for years. Police in Anhui discovered indications of the identity change during a routine check, reopened the robbery case and formed a special investigation team. Family members initially supported the deception, but Deng’s former girlfriend confirmed the identity change. Chen was subsequently apprehended, and he reportedly faces a possible prison sentence of three to 10 years.