Fall of quake hero sends a warning sign

'The disaster has put me through the mill and made me more profoundly understand the power of friendship, the value of kinship and the sense of responsibility to become a useful person to society." This is what Lei Chunian, then 15 years old, said six years ago in a report on his heroic deed during the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake.

Six years later, Lei, now 21, was standing trial at a court in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province, on charges of fraud and forgery. On Monday, prosecutors charged him with swindling more than 460,000 yuan ($75,210) from 21 people, including his former girlfriend, and forging government department and company seals. Prosecutors say Lei may face at least 10 years' imprisonment.

It is sad that the "sudden honors" bestowed on Lei failed to help him take the path to a meaningful and useful life, and instead pushed him toward self-degeneration.