50 defendants involved in the case related to the drug-fueled party hotspot at Quynh Trang karaoke bar, O Dien commune, were tried by the Hanoi People's Court on 5/8.

According to the People's Procuracy, this 6-story karaoke establishment was constructed by Hoang Duc Phu, aged 56, and his wife in 2018. The bar was completed precisely when the Covid-19 pandemic began, preventing it from operating and obtaining a karaoke business license.

Around 9/2023, Phu entrusted the bar's management to his nephew Nguyen An Viet and Viet's wife, Nguyen Thi Ngoc Ha. Viet received a monthly salary of 10 million dong, and Ha 5 million dong.

Viet oversaw all operations, while Ha served as cashier, managed, and accounted for income and expenses. The bar's profits were transferred to Phu's wife's bank account.

Noticing the lack of customers and the demand among many patrons for drug use, Viet proposed allowing regular customers to engage in drug-fueled activities in the singing rooms, to which Phu agreed.

Viet and his wife subsequently hired staff to arrange rooms, with female attendants serving customers using drugs.

The standard karaoke room rate was 250,000-300,000 dong per hour, while rooms with drug-fueled party services were charged 400,000 dong. Female attendants charged 300,000 dong per shift, lasting 1,5 hours; Ha retained 50,000 dong per shift to cover food and lodging costs.

According to the People's Procuracy, this operation generated 6,1 billion dong for Phu and Viet over 19 months, averaging about 320 million dong monthly.

Defendant Hoang Duc Phu (standing) and his nephew's couple at court. Photo: Danh Lam

Owner sentenced to 10 years, nephew to 17 years

In addition to organizing drug use for customers, Phu also illegally possessed one tiger skin from an endangered, precious, and rare species.

The court sentenced Phu to a total of 10 years in prison for two crimes: organizing the illegal use of narcotics and violating regulations on the protection of endangered, precious, and rare animals.

Nguyen An Viet was sentenced to 17 years in prison for two crimes: organizing the illegal use of narcotics and illegally trading narcotics. Viet's wife, Nguyen Thi Ngoc Ha, received 7 years in prison.

In the same case, the remaining 47 defendants received sentences ranging from a 9-month suspended sentence to 16 years in prison for one of the following crimes: failure to report a crime, organizing the illegal use of narcotics, or illegally trading narcotics.

Hai Thu