On 14/7, Nguyen Thuy, former deputy police chief of Saigon ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, stood trial for bribery.

His subordinates, Nguyen Thanh Luan and Nguyen Vo Danh, were also involved but received immunity from bribery charges due to their preemptive confessions. They were prosecuted only for accepting bribes to release a drug possession suspect.

Phan Thi Thuy, owner of a spa in the former District 1, is accused of defrauding the three former police officers. Phan Duc Minh, the drug possession suspect, is charged with bribery.

Nguyen Thuy (center, front row) and other defendants in court. Photo: Hai Duyen

Nguyen Thuy (center, front row) and other defendants in court. Photo: Hai Duyen

On the evening of 8/11/2022, Nguyen Thanh Luan and two civilian guards arrested Phan Duc Minh for possessing two packets of drugs and brought him to the ward police station. Minh offered Luan a bribe to avoid charges. Nguyen Thuy, informed of the situation, told Luan to "help if you can".

Luan then brought Minh to the officer on duty, Nguyen Vo Danh. Minh agreed to pay Danh 50 million VND for his release. He borrowed an additional 40 million VND from an acquaintance, who delivered the money to Danh at the station. Minh was subsequently released.

Danh gave Luan 15 million VND, and Luan gave Thuy 5 million VND.

On 13/2/2023, District 1 police suspended Luan and Danh after discovering their misconduct. Fearing disciplinary action and criminal charges, they sought Thuy's help.

The next day, Thuy met with spa owner Phan Thi Thuy, hoping she could find connections to help them.

The People's Procuracy determined that Thuy, intending to defraud the officers, falsely claimed to "know many influential people". She demanded 30,000 USD (approximately 716 million VND).

Thuy asked Danh and Luan to each contribute 150 million VND, which he then delivered to Phan Thi Thuy at a cafe.

Defendants Phan Thi Thuy and Phan Duc Minh attended the trial while on bail. Photo: Hai Duyen

Defendants Phan Thi Thuy and Phan Duc Minh attended the trial while on bail. Photo: Hai Duyen

Knowing that Phan Thi Thuy owed a colleague 80 million VND, Thuy offered to pay the debt on her behalf, deducting it from the "bribe" money. He also gave her an additional 36 million VND at the spa on several occasions, though he couldn't recall the specific dates.

After receiving over 400 million VND from the police officers, Phan Thi Thuy repeatedly demanded more money between June 2023 and June 2024, threatening them with criminal charges if they refused.

The prosecution stated Phan Thi Thuy received a total of 2.16 billion VND from Thuy, Danh, and Luan. Thuy gave her 216 million VND, Danh 605 million VND, and Luan over 1.3 billion VND.

Phan Thi Thuy used the money for personal expenses and debt repayment. She is held responsible for the misappropriated 2.1 billion VND. Nguyen Thuy is accountable for the money he received from Minh and the over 200 million VND he gave to Phan Thi Thuy.

At the trial, Danh and Luan confessed, stating they had filed a complaint against Phan Thi Thuy for failing to fulfill her promise after receiving their money.

Thuy admitted receiving 5 million VND from Danh but claimed ignorance of its purpose until Danh and Luan were disciplined for accepting Minh's bribe.

Thuy maintained his innocence regarding the bribery charge. He claimed he only acted as an intermediary, passing money from Danh and Luan to Phan Thi Thuy to help his subordinates, not to pay a 216 million VND bribe for himself. "When Thuy said it would cost 30,000 USD, I told Danh and Luan, 'You two have to take care of it yourselves; I don't have the money," Thuy stated.

He also admitted giving Danh 80 million VND to pass on to Phan Thi Thuy, but insisted it was a loan, not a bribe. Danh corroborated this claim when questioned.

Phan Thi Thuy confessed to the fraud. She admitted having no influential contacts but, being pregnant and in debt, she decided to defraud the officers. Initially, she received 300 million VND from Nguyen Thuy, purportedly from Danh and Luan. Later, she received money directly from them. She confirmed that Thuy paid her 80 million VND debt, which was deducted from the bribe money, and that she received an additional 36 million VND from him on multiple occasions.

The court returned the case to the People's Procuracy for further investigation due to unresolved key details.

Hai Duyen