A MAN has been detained for allegedly killing a Shenzhen driver he hired through a car-hailing app in July, according to a news conference by Dongguan police recently.

    The suspect, surnamed Cao, was caught in Maoming, Guangdong, at the end of August, a month after the fatal robbery.

    Yang Jianyong, who made a living by providing rides through a car-hailing app, drove the suspected killer from Longgang District to neighboring Dongguan on July 22. The car was equipped with a GPS and Yang was found dead in a bush on an overpass that was not yet open to traffic on the morning of July 23.

    His white Toyota was parked a few meters away with blood all over the car’s inside. A bloodstained knife was also found in the car.

    Police confirmed the identity of the suspect through monitoring cameras from Longgang to Dongguan and caught Cao in a milk tea shop in Xin’an Township in Maoming.

    Yang, 38, was a driver with Shenzhen Huayu Taxi Service Co. He used a car-hailing to find business. He was offered 500 yuan (US$81.75) to drive Cao to Humen.

    Cao told police that he killed Yang because of a dispute over a fare. Police said Cao robbed Yang but didn’t not reveal how much money Cao stole.

    The death highlights concern over the safety of both drivers and customers of the car-hailing apps, which are increasingly popular.

    (Han Ximin)