(Thanks and a hat tip to Martin Selbrede)
There are a few pieces missing from this story, but what we have is, well, too strange to pass up.
A man showed up in a Rumanian court last week to try to prove he was still alive, but the court wasn’t having any. You’re too late, buddy: you were declared dead years ago, and that decision is final (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/constantin-reliu-man-returns-romania-finds-hes-been-declared-dead/).
Assorted tests have verified that the man is who he says he is. He laments, “I am officially dead, although I’m alive.” He thinks being dead may impede his attempts to find a job.
It seems the guy took off for Turkey some 20 years ago, his wife got tired of waiting for him to come back, had him declared dead, and moved to Italy. When his papers expired, he was deported from Turkey–coming home to Rumania only to learn that he was legally dead. And last week he found himself in the extraordinary position of trying to prove, in person, that he’s actually alive–with the judge not buying it!
“Honest, your honor, I’m not dead! I don’t even feel dead!”
“Sorry, Charlie. The papers say you’re dead, and that’s that.”
Laments the man, “I’m a ghost. I can’t do anything.”
What do you want to bet he has to keep paying taxes?