On 14/4, Nguyen Khanh Duy, former Deputy Chief of Police of Ward 15, District 10 (now Hoa Hung Ward), was convicted of bribery by the Ho Chi Minh City People's Court.

In the same case, Pham Tran Ngoc Thanh (40), a former officer of Police Ward 11, Go Vap District (now Thong Tay Hoi Ward), received a sentence of 6 years and 6 months in prison for abuse of power and authority while on duty.

Nguyen Vo Anh Vu (41), former Chief of Police of Hoa Phuoc Commune, Hoa Vang District, Da Nang, was sentenced to 6 years in prison; 9 other former police officers received sentences ranging from 2 years to 5 years and 6 months for the same offense.

Five other defendants received sentences ranging from a 3-year suspended sentence to 4 years in prison for bribery, brokering bribery, and fraud to appropriate property.

The court deemed the actions of Duy and the group of former police officers severe. They abused their positions to commit illegal acts, infringing upon the proper functioning of state agencies and negatively impacting security and order. Consequently, strict penalties were imposed.

Former police officers at the trial. *Photo: Hai Duyen*

The verdict stated that Nguyen Khanh Duy accepted a request from another ward police officer to 'rescue' Nguyen Duc Thuy for 30 million VND. After receiving the documents and money, Duy drafted a residency verification request form and sent it to Hoa Phuoc Commune, Da Nang, asking Nguyen Vo Anh Vu's group to provide false confirmation.

Additionally, through Ho Nguyen Vinh, a former officer of Police Ward 12, District 10, Duy received 50 million VND to assist Phan Trong Tan. Using the fake documents provided by the brokerage group, Duy instructed his subordinates to create false statements and work reports.

Subsequently, Duy personally visited the Nhi Xuan Social Center and instructed Tan to falsely declare his place of residence. The statement was then forwarded to the brokerage group, who enlisted Le Hoang Dan, Chief of Police of Long Hiep Commune, Long An, to provide false confirmation. With the fabricated verification results, Duy prepared a report proposing that the Ward 15 People's Committee revoke the decision to send Tan to rehabilitation.

In total, Duy received 80 million VND from two families. During the investigation, the defendant returned all the illicit gains.

The defendants detained in the case. *Photo: Hai Duyen*

Pham Tran Ngoc Thanh engaged in similar actions while processing addict files in Ward 11, Go Vap District (formerly). He agreed to help several families prevent their children from being sent to mandatory rehabilitation. His method involved legalizing files and fabricating details of addicts having stable residency in another locality to justify suspending or revoking rehabilitation decisions.

To do this, Thanh contacted Nguyen Vo Anh Vu, then Chief of Police of Hoa Phuoc Commune, Da Nang, to falsify residency confirmations. In 5/2023, when Dang Quoc Thinh was detained, Thanh drafted a 'request for reconsideration,' forged Thinh's mother's signature, and sent it via Zalo to Vu. Subsequently, Vu instructed his subordinates to falsely confirm that Thinh resided in Con Mong Hamlet, Hoa Phuoc Commune.

Beyond paper confirmations, the officers also interfered with data on the national residency system. When the Ho Chi Minh City Police sent an electronic verification request, Vu assigned a subordinate to respond. Despite knowing Thinh did not live in the area, the subordinate logged into the system, confirmed Thinh's residency since 4/2023, but noted no temporary registration. Vu approved and forwarded the results to Ho Chi Minh City.

Based on these results, Thanh prepared a report proposing that the Police and People's Committee of Ward 11 revoke the decision to send Thinh to rehabilitation, citing 'new circumstances'.

Authorities determined that from 5/2023 to early 2024, Thanh and the group of officers from Hoa Phuoc Commune Police fabricated residency documents for a total of 5 individuals using similar methods.

During the investigation and trial, Thanh and Vu admitted their actions stemmed from requests from acquaintances, out of deference, and without material gain. The other defendants also admitted their wrongdoing.

Hai Duyen