A couple in Longgang District was jailed for refusing to hand over the apartment they had sold, the Shenzhen Economic Daily reported.

The couple, surnamed Wang and Qian, signed a sales contract March 15, 2015, to sell an apartment in Buji, Longgang District, to another couple surnamed Deng and Li for 1.69 million yuan (US$244,948).

Deng and Li paid a deposit of 50,000 yuan and a down payment of 460,000 yuan according to the contract.

Half a month later, Wang and Qian refused to transfer ownership of the apartment on the grounds that the price of the property had risen by more than 500,000 yuan.

Deng and Li filed a lawsuit in Longgang District People’s Court, demanding Wang and Qian fulfill the contract and deliver the apartment. The court ruled in favor of Deng and Li and the ruling took effect July 6, 2016.

Wang and Qian refused to honor the court ruling. Deng and Li applied to the court for compulsory execution. However, Wang and Qian refused to move out of the estate even though the court had issued a notice ordering them to relocate.

Wang was arrested for refusing to execute court judgments and Qian surrendered to the police afterwards. Wang was sentenced to five months and Qian was sentenced to four months with an eight-month reprieve. The two didn’t appeal.

On Nov. 14, 2017, Wang and Qian delivered the real estate to Deng and Li. Three days later, the court ruled that the case was closed. (Zhang Yu)