Once hailed a hero, ayi faces lawsuit

By Shen Shushu Source:Global Times Published: 2013-1-13 23:48:01

The owner of a Shanghai housekeeping agency has filed a lawsuit to reclaim the 1,000 yuan ($162) he gave a Hubei Province housekeeper whom the media falsely reported had saved another woman's life during a car accident in October, local media reported Sunday.

The plaintiff, Yang Qiaoxing, claimed that he gave the defendant the money on November 9 after the Chutian Metropolis Daily, a newspaper in Hubei Province, reported she had pushed a neighbor out of the way of an oncoming car in Minhang district, according to media reports.

 The defendant, 46-year-old He Yihong, was seriously injured in the accident.

Yang had worked with He for more than 10 years in the city, according to the Oriental Morning Post.

Yang said he rewarded He to show his support for ordinary people who risk their lives for others. "However, it just turned out to be an ordinary traffic accident," he told the Global Times. "She did not do anything to save someone else, so I want my money back so I can give it to a real good Samaritan."

The Chutian Metropolis Daily reported on November 8 that He and her neighbor, Li Fen, were waiting for green light at an intersection when He noticed a car barreling toward them. According to the story, He pushed Li away out of the way of the oncoming vehicle, though both women ended up getting hit.

Several news outlets, including the national Xinhua News Agency, picked up the story. The government of He's hometown in Luotian county named her a "Morality Model" for her actions, according to a report by the Xinmin Evening News.

Along with the 1,000 yuan from Yang, He accepted tens of thousands of yuan in donations from people who heard about the story.

However, in late November, the Youth Daily followed up and found evidence that He may not have deserved her accolades.

The newspaper reported that Li and He were riding an electric motor scooter at the time of the accident. Both Li and other witnesses denied that He had pushed Li out of the way.

He, who was still recovering from her injuries in the hospital Sunday, denied Yang's accusations, adding that he only gave her 200 yuan, not 1,000 yuan.

"Even if I didn't save anyone, shouldn't he give me some compassion for my injuries?" she asked.

She said she had not received the court summons and had no plans to appear in court.

The Minhang District People's Court has scheduled to hear the case next Monday.



Posted in: Society, Metro Shanghai

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