Ho Ngoc Tuan, 25, along with Nguyen Van Quyet and his wife Vo Thi Thanh Xuan, both 30, and five others, face charges of disrupting public order. The People's Procuracy of Ho Chi Minh City (VKSND TP HCM) recently finalized the indictment, forwarding it to the Regional People's Court 1 (TAND Khu vuc 1) for trial.

Prosecutors allege their actions, which involved carrying a coffin on a public road amidst traffic and international tourists, offended urban aesthetics, caused public alarm, and disrupted public order. However, the procuracy noted several mitigating circumstances for the defendants.

Ho Ngoc Tuan (left) at the investigation agency upon arrest. Photo: Bao Tran

According to the indictment, around October 2024, Tuan partnered with Quyet and his wife to sell clothing online via the TikTok account "Never GG". Tuan developed various business, design, and advertising concepts to promote their products. Aiming to increase store visibility and sales, Tuan filmed and posted several videos with different themes on social media to generate engagement and views. When these efforts did not meet expectations, he conceived a video featuring four people in black attire carrying a coffin in a street procession, intending to create a shocking event to boost views and clothing sales.

Tuan discussed his idea with Quyet, his wife, and others, who agreed to participate.

The group contacted the Nhan Bao Tho coffin shop in Long An, purchasing a coffin for 3,5 million dong. They then hired the shop owner, Nguyen Van Tham, 31, to paint it black and arrange individuals to carry it on the street.

In late January, Tuan had decals printed according to his design. He and the group then went to Tham's coffin shop in Long An to apply them to the coffin. Tuan arranged a four-hour photoshoot and video recording session at a studio on Huyen Tran Cong Chua Street in Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, for 1,3 million dong, also hiring additional models.

On 25/2, Tuan called Tham to transport the coffin to the studio for filming. In the afternoon, Tuan provided five designed jackets for the workers to wear. They then carried the coffin on Huyen Tran Cong Chua Street, walking against traffic towards Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street and back, covering approximately 200 meters.

Unsatisfied with the initial footage, Tuan decided to move the coffin to Ben Thanh Market for additional filming, paying Tham an extra fee. Four individuals, dressed in black, hooded, and masked, then carried the coffin, which bore white lettering, along the motorcycle lane of Le Lai Street. They proceeded towards the Le Lai - Tran Hung Dao intersection, crossed a traffic light towards the south gate of Ben Thanh Market, and continued to the next intersection where an oto awaited to transport the coffin back to Long An.

Tuan compiled all the images and clips into a video, which he then posted on the aforementioned TikTok account. The video quickly garnered thousands of views, comments, and shares. The majority of reactions expressed indignation and anger, condemning the act as offensive advertising.

The group of individuals carrying a coffin through Ben Thanh market. Photo: Clip screenshot

Article 318 of the Penal Code stipulates that individuals disrupting public order, thereby negatively impacting social security, order, and safety, may face fines ranging from 5 million to 50 million dong, non-custodial reform for up to two years, or imprisonment from three months to two years.

For organized acts, use of weapons or dangerous objects, vandalism, severe traffic obstruction, inciting others to cause disorder, assaulting interveners, or causing property damage of 50 million dong or more, the penalty framework increases to two to seven years in prison.

Binh Nguyen