The Yen Dai Court recently accepted the compensation lawsuit filed by Mieu Thang Cuong, a resident of Yen Dai, Son Dong, and held a hearing with the defendant on 29/7.

The case details show that on 2/4/1990, Mieu and his father went to the home of one resident in Long Khau City to sell raw gold they had refined at home.

The Long Khau City Public Security Bureau arrested them and confiscated 844 grams of gold and one motorbike on suspicion of profiteering.

The case concluded that month. The Long Khau City Public Security Bureau returned the motorbike and gave Mieu and his father three receipts for the confiscated gold.

Three receipts given to Mieu and his father by the police after their release. *Photo: The Paper*

Mieu has not received any official document concluding the case since then. The gold has also not been returned.

In 12/2025, Mieu learned of a similar case where the individual involved had their confiscated gold returned. Consequently, Mieu filed a state compensation claim with the Long Khau City Public Security Bureau.

On 13/2, the Long Khau City Public Security Bureau rejected Mieu's claim, stating that the request for compensation did not fall within the scope of state compensation. Dissatisfied, he submitted an application for reconsideration to the Yen Dai City Public Security Bureau.

He was informed that the Long Khau City Public Security Bureau's rejection of his request was correct; however, the reason provided was inappropriate and needed correction.

Specifically, the correct reason should have been that Mieu's compensation claim had exceeded the statutory two-year period and lacked a valid justification. The authorities only corrected the reason, maintaining the original decision: no compensation for Mieu.

Dissatisfied, Mieu filed a lawsuit with the Yen Dai Court, seeking state compensation.

Police assert evidence was handled lawfully

On 29/7, the court held a hearing for both parties to review the evidence in his compensation claim.

During the investigation, the judge questioned the Long Khau Public Security Bureau about why they did not return the confiscated gold to Mieu after dropping the case.

The Long Khau police stated that Mieu's actions constituted profiteering, and the amount involved was substantial.

They further asserted that Mieu obtained the gold through illegal processing and refining, and therefore it had to be confiscated and sold to the People's Bank of China.

Furthermore, the Long Khau Public Security Bureau stated that while they lifted Mieu's surveillance, the criminal case against him at the time remained unresolved.

Mieu and his lawyer, however, argued that the police failed to provide evidence of destroying, processing, or submitting the gold to the People's Bank of China, nor did they issue Mieu a decision on handling the evidence as required.

Therefore, according to the plaintiff, the gold should still be considered under police management. Since the statute of limitations for the case has expired, the evidence should be returned to Mieu.

In response, the police affirmed that the confiscation of this asset followed proper procedures and was handled lawfully.

The court stated it would deliberate and issue a verdict soon.

Hai Thu (According to The Paper)