In Hubei province, central China, a mysterious case of a 29-year-old man’s death at a foot massage parlour in Wuhan has ignited a storm of controversy. The father of the deceased, known by his surname Yan, has refused a compensation offer of 500,000 yuan (US$69,000) from the massage parlour. Alleging the business to be a cover-up for a brothel, he accused them of failing to seek timely medical assistance for his son. The story, as reported by Hubei Media Group, has sparked public outcry and attracted significant attention on social media.
Yan, a father to a baby girl, visited the parlour by himself in the early hours of June 2. He paid 329 yuan (US$45) for a Thai massage service, but by the evening, his lifeless, naked body was being removed by a funeral parlour. Yan’s father was adamant that his son was in robust health, without any underlying diseases or harmful habits. The fact that he was found dead and naked on the same day of his visit led to the father’s suspicion that the parlour secretly offered sexual services.
Backing up the father’s suspicions was a friend of Yan, a previous customer of the parlour, who claimed that the business did provide clandestine sexual services. Furthermore, Yan’s father accused the establishment of delaying medical help for his son and reporting the incident to the police, which might have contributed to his death.
Upon reviewing surveillance footage from the parlour, Yan’s father expressed concern about the suspicious behaviour of the staff, who seemed flustered and made multiple entries to his son’s room carrying a plastic bag and wearing white gloves.
When the parlour offered a compensation amount of 500,000 yuan for Yan’s death, the father rejected the offer, arguing that the cost of raising Yan’s infant daughter would far exceed the proposed sum. He is currently contemplating hiring a lawyer to negotiate an appropriate compensation plan.
The cause of Yan’s death remains undisclosed, and the massage parlour is still closed. Local police’s initial investigation did not reveal any criminal activities, and the authorities have offered to conduct an autopsy if the family wishes.
The incident led to a surge of public sympathy for Yan’s widow, although speculation about Yan allegedly engaging in illegal sexual services at the time of his death has raised some controversies online. Many users have voiced their support for the compensation being directed to Yan’s wife and daughter, whilst some have cast doubt on the father’s claims of Yan having no ‘bad habits’.
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