Didi suspends 'hitch-hiking' service as search for murder suspect continues
Didi said it would suspend its hitch-hiking service for one week after the alleged murder of a passenger in Zhengzhou in central Henan Province was unveiled two days ago.
Didi yesterday offered a reward of up to 1 million yuan (US$157,671) to anyone who provides valuable information regarding the whereabouts of the Didi driver who is suspected of the murder.
A stewardess surnamed Li, 21, was killed on her way home from Zhengzhou airport in the early morning on May 6, after hailing a private car using the Didi Chuxing application the night before.
Zhengzhou police said on May 10 that the driver, surnamed Liu, is suspected of conducting the crime. They confirmed that they have been looking at surveillance footage and searching the relevant areas.
Didi said in a statement on Friday that the suspect was using his father’s account when picking up the passenger, which passed the account screening process and was verified by the platform.
The company said that another passenger filed a complaint against the driver with Didi for sexual harassment before the incident, but the complaint failed to proceed because the suspect didn't answer his phone.
It also said it failed to design an appropriate safeguard mechanism for riders who use the app's hitchhike function late at night.