On 21/4, former ward vice chairman Pham Quang Thien, 48, was recommended by the Hanoi People's Procuracy for 6 years and 6 months in prison for organizing the illegal use of narcotics. The charges stem from a case at Hoang Kim, a karaoke establishment integrated with a motel business in Thanh Tri.

Lai Quoc Viet, 35, who also used drugs with Thien, was recommended for 7 years and 6 months to 8 years in prison for the same charge. Nguyen Thuy Quynh, 23, and Ha Thi Hien, 26, the two female service staff members who used drugs with Thien, were recommended for 7 years to 7 years and 6 months in prison, and 2 years and 6 months to 3 years in prison, respectively.

Pham Quang Thien, former vice chairman of Phu Lam ward (Ha Dong district), at court. Photo: Danh Lam

In the same case, siblings Dang Thi Hong Linh, 36, and Dang The Chung, 34, who owned the establishment, were recommended for 7 years and 6 months to 8 years in prison for illegally trading narcotics. They were also recommended for 9 years to 9 years and 6 months in prison for organizing the illegal use of narcotics, resulting in a combined sentence of 16 years and 6 months to 17 years and 6 months in prison for each.

The Procuracy noted that these two siblings committed an aggravating offense by luring individuals under 18 years old to participate in the crime.

Tran My Linh, 31, Chung's wife, was recommended for 12 to 18 months of probation for concealing a crime.

Other defendants, including drug buyers, organizers of drug use, and establishment staff, were recommended for sentences ranging from probation to over 15 years in prison for one of the aforementioned crimes.

The Procuracy representative stated that the defendants were fully aware of the harm caused by drugs and the severe legal penalties for illegally buying, selling, possessing, and organizing drug use. Despite this awareness, they committed the crimes, demonstrating contempt for the law.

The Procuracy acknowledged mitigating circumstances for some defendants, such as good work performance, families with revolutionary contributions, difficult circumstances, or ethnic minority status.

A representative of the procuracy presents the indictment. Photo: Danh Lam

**Ward vice chairman caught using drugs all night in motel**

Police discovered Thien at 3:00 AM on 8/6/2025, in a room on the 3rd floor of the Hoang Kim motel complex, along with Viet and two female staff members. The scene contained drug paraphernalia with ketamine residue. All four individuals tested positive for drugs, with Thien testing positive for three substances: MDMA, Methamphetamine, and Ketamine.

According to testimonies, on the evening of 7/6/2025, after dinner and karaoke, Thien, then a ward vice chairman, invited Viet to use drugs. Viet paid for the room and the drugs upfront, with Thien promising to reimburse him later.

Viet contacted Linh, the owner of Hoang Kim, instructing her to prepare a room, drugs, and two female service staff, totaling 7 million dong.

Upon Thien and Viet's arrival, everything was ready. After consuming two ecstasy pills and one chi of Ketamine, Viet called the owner to request an additional half chi of Ketamine. The two female staff continued to prepare the drugs and used them with the customers until police conducted an inspection and made arrests.

The defendants at court. Photo: Danh Lam

Expanding the investigation, authorities determined that in 2020, siblings Chung and Linh rented the premises for 80 million dong per month to operate the Hoang Kim motel and karaoke establishment.

Initially, the establishment served regular karaoke customers. However, noticing some customers illegally using drugs, they began to facilitate this business model starting in June 2024.

In early 2025, the number of customers using drugs at the establishment increased. They began selling drugs directly: 3 million dong per chi of Ketamine, 400,000 dong per ecstasy pill, and 3 million dong per package of happy water drug.

For room rentals, the establishment charged 450,000 dong per hour or a combo of 2.5 million dong for 12 hours.

To manage the establishment, Linh and Chung hired male staff with duties including preparing drug paraphernalia and fulfilling other customer requests, with monthly salaries of 5-8 million dong. Female staff received 180,000 dong per hour for serving customers during their illegal drug use.

After learning of the police raid, Linh, Chung's wife, and establishment staff attempted to destroy evidence, tearing down police seals on the entrance doors.

The defendants checked rooms to collect scattered drug pills and plastic bags with drug residue to dispose of them. They were in the process of cleaning up and erasing criminal traces when police discovered and arrested them.

The Trial Panel continues its work.

Hai Thu