Romanian Man Tells Court He Is Alive, Court Declares Him Dead

'I can't do anything.'


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A Romanian court has ruled that a 63-year-old man is dead...despite the fact he seems quite alive.

Romanian man Constantin Reliu went to Turkey to seek employment and fell out of contact with his family, in which time his wife filed a death certificate so she could annul the marriage and remarry.

He went to court to overturn the death certificate - I mean, he stood there, being alive and all - but was told the certificate could not be overturned as it was years too late to appeal it, and that he would have to remain dead.

“I am officially dead, although I’m alive,” he told local media.

“I have no income and because I am listed dead, I can’t do anything.”

Reliu fled Romania for Turkey in 1992 and last had contact with his family in 1999, with his wife then filing for a death certificate, believing he had died in an earthquake.

Due to expired documents he was deported back to Romania where he found out he was technically dead, forcing him to go to court and appeal the certificate's validity.

The court's decision is final, leaving Reliu in a sticky situation.

I guess you could say it's a matter of life or death?

Ethan Meldrum

18 March 2018

Article by:

Ethan Meldrum




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