On 1/4, Tien, 34, was sentenced to 8 years in prison by the An Giang Provincial People's Court for inflicting physical abuse. For the same crime, Do Van Dien, Dang Tan Phuc, Tran Trung Nghia, and Nguyen Thanh Dat, who are conscripted police officers, received sentences ranging from 4 to 7 years in prison.

The trial of the group of detention center officers and conscripted police officers. Photo: Duong Dong

According to the indictment from the Supreme People's Procuracy, on the evening of 5/1/2025, Phung Thai Chau, while serving his sentence in cell T3, repeatedly shouted, banged on the cell door, climbed the window, and hit his head against the wall, causing bleeding.

When detention center officers asked him to maintain order, Chau continued to curse. The incident was reported to the head detention officer. Several officers, including Tien, were assigned to take Chau to the interrogation room for questioning, and eight additional conscripted police officers were called in for support.

The group of detention center officers allegedly handcuffed Chau to the window, then hung him up high, taped his mouth shut, and wrapped tape around his legs. Phuc, Dien, Nghia, and Dat beat him with their hands and rubber batons.

Detention center officer Tien, while not directly participating in the beating, was the one who ordered Chau to be hung and witnessed the four conscripted police officers assault the inmate.

The forensic examination concluded that Chau sustained multiple soft tissue injuries in various locations on his body and multi-organ congestion. The cause of death was acute circulatory failure.

Regarding civil liability, the defendants' families voluntarily compensated over 230 million VND. The victim's family did not request further compensation and also submitted a petition requesting the court to consider leniency for the defendants.

Ngoc Tai