In 8/2020, outside a fruit store in Pudong district (Shanghai), a reversing truck fatally struck a sanitation worker. Following the incident, 20-year-old Ly Quy Bang surrendered to authorities, claiming he mishandled the vehicle while reversing.

The insurance company compensated the victim's family with over 1,1 million yuan, while Bang's family paid over 160,000 yuan. Due to proactive compensation and forgiveness from the victim's family, Bang was sentenced to one year and six months in prison for involuntary manslaughter, with a suspended sentence of one year and six months. Despite not serving jail time, Bang still had a criminal record.

However, Bang's father, Ly Kim Bao, was the actual driver of the vehicle that caused the accident. Previously, the father had his driver's license suspended for drunk driving. Therefore, at the time of the accident, Bao was driving without a license. According to the insurance contract terms, the company had the right to deny compensation for this accident.

In a panic, Bao woke his sleeping son, and before the police arrived, the two discussed and agreed for Bang to take the blame, coordinating their statements to conceal the truth.

"If I didn't do it, people back home would say I was an unfilial son, everyone would look down on me. So at that time, I didn't think much and just took full responsibility", Bang testified, adding that over the years, this matter weighed heavily on him, causing resentment and even a degree of bitterness.

Bang only shared this story with a childhood close friend. Unexpectedly, this friend was later sentenced to 11 years and three months in prison for fraud.

In 5/2025, after hearing from a fellow inmate that reporting criminal behavior of others could lead to a reduced sentence, the friend immediately wrote a report, uncovering the truth about the 2020 accident.

Ly Kim Bao confesses his guilt in the interrogation room. *Photo: Knews*

The prosecution reopened the investigation and clarified the entire incident. In 4/2026, the court overturned the previous verdict. Bao was sentenced to 7 years in prison for involuntary manslaughter, obstruction of justice, and insurance fraud, and fined 60,000 yuan.

Bang was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison for covering up and insurance fraud, with a suspended sentence of three years, and fined 30,000 yuan.

Bang's mother was also suspected of covering up, but given the minor nature of her actions and low risk to society, the prosecution decided not to press charges.

Tue Anh (according to Knews, The Paper)