Zhang, a software engineer from Henan Province who works for a Beijing company, used to spend more than half the year travelling on business.

But his company decided to suspend his travels temporarily, after his identity card number was found to be exactly the same as that of a man wanted by police.

Zhang was first taken into police custody in June 2001 during a business trip to Changchun, Jilin Province.

He had no idea what the interrogation he endured was about until he later realized that his ID number was identical to that of a wanted criminal.

He was finally released four hours later.

But his troubles did not end there. He has been similarly detained by police in Jinan, Tianjin and Jiaozuo during the past two years.

The last time he was handcuffed and escorted to jail by 20 police officers.

Police said Zhang could apply to change his ID number at the police station of his birthplace in Henan.

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