On 17/4, Vu Quang Chien, 67, was sentenced to 12 years in prison by the Hanoi People's Court for murder.

Chien had previously been imprisoned three times for gambling and illegal drug trafficking. He also faced administrative penalties for extortion and intentional injury, serving a sentence from 2003 and released in 2014.

In this case, the Procuracy determined that Chien and gang leader Nguyen Thi Hanh (also known as Hanh "Su") had been friends for over 30 years. After his release from prison in 2014, Chien, in 2015, introduced a friend from Hai Phong to borrow money from Hanh. As the gang leader only knew Chien, he became responsible for the loan.

By mid-2022, Hanh "Su" informed Chien that his friend still owed 11 billion VND. The friend from Hai Phong confirmed the debt but subsequently fled, avoiding Chien and Hanh to repay the money.

Hanh "Su" upon her arrest in 7/2025 in an extortion case. Photo: Ngoc Bich.

Of the 11 billion VND Hanh "Su" lent, 800 million belonged to Mr. Sang, residing in Hoai Duc. Mr. Sang later sought out Chien to clarify the situation.

At noon on 15/5/2023, while Chien was drinking beer on Doi Can street in Hanoi, Mr. Sang arranged to meet him. Chien went home, retrieved a loaded gun with six bullets, hid it in his pants pocket, and returned to wait. Mr. Sang arrived with three acquaintances.

Around 14h, Mr. Sang's group arrived at the beer quan and inquired about the debt, but Chien did not respond. When Mr. Sang said, "If you owe Hanh money, arrange to pay it back," Chien became enraged, stood up, drew the gun, pointed it at Mr. Sang, swore, and stated, "There's only a corpse left, no money."

Seeing this, one person from Mr. Sang's group rushed forward, embracing and wrestling Chien to the ground. Simultaneously, two of Chien's associates ran over; Nguyen Van Loi held a gun, and another unidentified individual carried a three-section iron rod.

Chien shouted, "Kill them." During the struggle, the defendant fired the gun, shooting the person restraining him in the abdomen. Chien's two companions then repeatedly struck the victim in the head and face with iron rods, causing him to collapse to the ground with 28% injuries.

After two years and four months, Chien was arrested in Thai Binh. The defendant stated that he bought the gun in 2017 while doing business near the Tay Ninh - Cambodia border, for 35 million VND.

Loi is currently at large. The identity of the other individual remains undetermined, and investigators continue to clarify the matter.

Hanh "Su" was once an associate of gang boss Nam Cam. She was a well-known figure in the underworld of Hanoi, Hai Phong, and TP HCM in the early 2000s, with a history of convictions and administrative penalties for fraud, disturbing public order, and resisting public officials.

In 7/2025, Hanh "Su" and four other suspects were arrested for extortion.

Hai Thu