Constantin Reliu, 63, though is alive and healthy is dead in the eyes of law after a Romanian court refused to overturn his death certificate.
Reliu worked for more than 20 years in Turkey as a cook and was out of contact with his wife and family. When he returned home after nearly two decades 'his wife had had him officially registered as dead.'
Since then he is trying to prove to the authorities that he is alive but failed because according to the court of the northeastern city of Vaslui his request was filed 'too late'.
Reliu shared his story with The Associated Press, stating:
"I am a living ghost, I am officially dead, although I'm alive. "I have no income and because I am listed as dead, I can't do anything."
He further shared how heartbroken he is.
"I think I am going to cry. I am not sure whether I am divorced or not. I am not sure whether she is married to someone else or not. Nobody will tell me."
Reliu first went to Turkey in the year 1992 and returned in 1995 when he found out about his wife's infidelity. Since then the couple was not on good terms. He returned to Turkey in 1999 to start a fresh life.
Though he had no plans to return home, in January 2018 he was deported to Romania by Turkish authorities over expired papers. He was, later on, informed at the Bucharest airport that he had been officially dead and underwent several hours tests and questions including the measurement of his eyes, fingerprints, and some personal questions.
"They decided that it was me!" he stated.
However, the authorities in Barlad were not convinced. He tried to convince them to issue an official paper of his existence but was failed.
Reliu further said he has a desire to file a new lawsuit but does not have a sufficient money and is a diabetic patient which makes a matter worse.