Official Fired for Grinning
The story is funny and not.
A Chinese safety official who was photographed grinning at the scene of a deadly bus accident last month has been fired, the China News Service and BBC report.
Yang Dacai, head of work safety in Shaanxi Province, was found guilty of “serious wrongdoing” for “inappropriate behavior of ‘grinning’ as well as wearing luxurious watches.”
Photos posted online of Yang smiling at the scene of an Aug. 26 crash between a bus and gas tanker truck that killed 36 people, and of him wearing fancy watches, went viral and generated public outcry, the BBC says.
Here’s how Yang explained his happy face:
“My heart was heavy when I reached the scene… Junior officials appeared nervous when they were updating me on the situation. I was trying to get them to relax a little, so maybe, in an unguarded moment I got a little too relaxed myself.
– USA Today