Despite knowing she was infected with the HIV virus, a woman continued to use her body for 'business' and engaged in sexual transactions, ultimately not only losing her freedom but also landing herself in the criminal defendant's seat.
The People's Court of Changshun County, Guizhou Province, China, recently concluded a case of transmission of sexually transmitted diseases. A woman was diagnosed with HIV in 2019. Fully aware that the disease is contagious, she nonetheless continued to engage in prostitution in a rented apartment from December 2024 onwards, accumulating roughly 50 sexual transactions.
It wasn't until December 2025, during a sexual transaction with a client, that she was caught red-handed by the public security authorities.
After the case was transferred to the prosecution, the Changshun County People's Procuratorate filed public prosecution in June 2026, asserting that the woman, knowing she had HIV, continued engaging in prostitution, thus violating Article 360 of China's Criminal Law and was suspected of the crime of spreading sexually transmitted diseases.
After the court's review, it was determined that she continued prostitution knowing her HIV-positive status, and that her actions constituted the crime of spreading sexually transmitted diseases, with potentially serious social harm, thus meriting a heavier punishment.
However, after being brought to justice, she truthfully confessed and voluntarily pleaded guilty, and thus received a lenient sentence according to law.
Ultimately, the court sentenced her to one year and nine months in prison and fined her 3,000 RMB.
The judge reminds: Don’t assume you can escape legal responsibility simply because 'no one was infected'
According to current Chinese law, anyone who knowingly suffers from serious infectious diseases such as syphilis, gonorrhea, or HIV and still engages in prostitution or soliciting prostitution may be convicted of the crime of spreading sexually transmitted diseases, even if no one becomes infected, with a maximum sentence of five years' imprisonment and a fine.
If this further causes another person to become infected with HIV, the corresponding act may also constitute intentional injury, with further enhanced criminal liability.
Furthermore, if the individual deliberately spreads HIV or other infectious diseases to an unspecified group of people, thereby endangering public safety, it may constitute the crime of endangering public safety by dangerous means and be subject to even harsher penalties.