In late August, 22-year-old Nguyen Ngoc Canh appeared before the Hanoi People's Court, facing charges of organizing illegal drug use and desecrating a corpse. Vu Duc Kien, 29, was charged with organizing illegal drug use, and Nguyen Huu Khanh, 34, with desecrating a corpse.
Kien had a previous 12-month suspended sentence for extortion, while Khanh had a 6-month prison sentence for public disorder.
The three are accused in connection with the death of a man who overdosed during a drug-fueled gathering at a karaoke bar. The victim's body was subsequently dumped on the banks of the Red River, near Trang Viet commune, in the former Me Linh district, in September 2024.
 |
The defendants in court. Photo: Danh Lam |
The defendants in court. Photo: Danh Lam
The indictment stated that the body was discovered by locals around 2:43 a.m. on 8/9/2024. The victim was identified as 35-year-old Ha, a resident of Dai Mach commune in the former Dong Anh district of Hanoi. He died around 8 p.m. the previous day from hemodynamic disturbances leading to a heart attack, pulmonary edema, and respiratory failure.
His blood alcohol content was 34.3 mg/100ml, and tests revealed the presence of three drugs: MDA, MDMA, and ketamine. These were identified as the primary cause of death.
The investigation revealed that on the afternoon of 7/9/2024, an intoxicated Ha was driven by his cousin to Canh’s karaoke bar in Dong Anh. Khanh and Kien were already present. Ha then invited additional friends to join them. Due to a storm and power outage, they had to borrow a battery to restore electricity.
Ha then asked Kien if he knew where to buy ketamine, requesting "mot chi" (a unit of measurement for drugs).
Kien contacted a supplier and was quoted a price of 3.2 million VND. Ha gave Kien 3.5 million VND for a 17-km taxi ride to Cau Giay district to purchase the drugs, according to the indictment.
Inside the VIP room, Ha, Khanh, Canh, seven of Ha's friends, and the group gathered. Ha distributed pills he had brought with him, and they consumed the drugs while listening to music. Feeling the effects weren't strong enough, Ha took a second pill, danced, and shouted before collapsing on a chair, while the others continued to enjoy the music.
Kien then prepared the newly acquired ketamine and offered it to the group. Around 10:40 p.m., noticing Ha's unresponsive state after consuming excessive alcohol and drugs, Kien tried to wake him. He then told Khanh, "I think he's dead."
Khanh attempted CPR. After determining Ha had died, they cleaned the room and removed any evidence of drug use. Canh told everyone to leave, assuring them he and his associates would handle the situation. Khanh and Canh then carried Ha's body out of the room and onto a motorbike.
With Khanh driving and Canh holding Ha's body between them, they rode to the riverbank and dumped the body without notifying Ha’s family or the authorities. Canh subsequently fled and was placed on the wanted list before surrendering on 3/4.
During the investigation, the three defendants and other witnesses confirmed that Ha had initiated the drug use, providing the ecstasy pills and setting up the sound system. Kien procured the ketamine.
Canh admitted to allowing the drug use at his establishment without intervention and also partaking in the drug consumption. No one else besides Canh and Khanh was involved in the disposal of Ha's body. The investigative agency conducted a reenactment of the events.
Seven other individuals involved in the drug use at the karaoke bar faced administrative penalties.
At the court hearing on 28/8, Ha’s family questioned whether he was already dead when his body was dumped. The judges acknowledged the family’s grief but urged them to trust the investigative findings.
Due to emerging details, the court returned the case for further investigation.
Hai Thu
