On 8/2/2026, Han, 35, was found holding a bottle of pesticide and attempting to take her own life at the Qingdao Beer Culture Square in Linyi City, Shandong province. A man walking his dog noticed her unusual behavior and called the police.
This was not Han's first suicide attempt. Since 2/2024, she had been receiving persistent calls and messages soliciting sexual favors from strangers, which subsequently led to her developing depression.
Callers frequently asked questions such as, "How much for one night?". Initially, Han believed they had dialed the wrong number, but as the calls increased, she realized her phone number had been intentionally circulated.
Some individuals even found Han's social media accounts, sending messages like, "Is 3,000 Chinese Yuan acceptable?". Unable to tolerate the harassment, Han reported the situation to the police in 6/2024.
The subsequent investigation revealed that due to a neighborly dispute and personal animosity, Mr. Vuong had provided Han's phone number to another man to harass her. He also wrote her phone number in two public restrooms, accompanied by the phrase "ban dam" (prostitution).
On 15/6/2024, Vuong was placed under administrative detention for ten days and fined 500 Chinese Yuan for infringing on Han's privacy and sending messages that disrupted her daily life.
Explaining the origin of the conflict, Vuong stated that on one occasion, Han's car was scratched, and she asked him to check his surveillance camera. Due to poor lighting, the camera did not capture useful information. According to Vuong, Han then falsely accused and insulted him.
The two neighbors also had other daily disagreements, including issues related to parking spaces and the movement of a manhole cover, which Vuong claimed caused him inconvenience.
False rumors ruin marriage prospects
The conflict between the two neighbors did not end after Vuong received his administrative punishment.
Han reported that after Vuong's detention, his wife and son continued to insult and provoke her directly outside her home. Local police intervened and facilitated an agreement between the two parties, but the conflict persisted.
Beyond direct confrontations, Han believed she was also subjected to covert harassment. Her car, parked outside her home, was repeatedly splattered with feces for over 40 days. This stopped after the police installed surveillance cameras. Vuong denied any involvement.
Amidst the prolonged conflict, Han's mental health deteriorated. In 7/2024, after several suicide attempts, she was diagnosed with depression accompanied by psychiatric symptoms. Her business operations ceased, she visited the police station almost three times each week, and her weight dropped to 35 kg.
As a single woman, Han believed the fabricated rumors severely damaged her reputation and social standing. A boyfriend, introduced to her through a matchmaker, subsequently abandoned his plans to marry her.
Han decided to file a private criminal prosecution with the court, seeking to hold Vuong accountable for insult and defamation, and demanding total compensation of 300,000 Chinese Yuan (approximately 1,2 billion Vietnamese Dong).
On 8/5, the court of first instance found Vuong guilty of defamation, sentencing him to three months in prison with a suspended sentence and ordering him to pay 5,500 Chinese Yuan (approximately 21 million Vietnamese Dong) in compensation.
The court determined that Vuong intentionally wrote Han's phone number in public restrooms with the phrase "ban dam", causing damage to her character and reputation.
His actions led to Han being repeatedly harassed by phone, developing depression, and exhibiting suicidal tendencies. Based on these consequences, the court classified the incident as a serious case.
Regarding the accusation of insult, the court ruled that such an act must be carried out publicly. Although Vuong wrote Han's phone number in public restrooms, he did not include her name or any other personal information. Therefore, the court determined the act was not public in nature and did not constitute the crime of insult.
Disagreeing with the first-instance verdict, Han has appealed. She believes the sentence for Vuong is too lenient and the compensation amount is too low.
Han stated that she and her parents had considered moving, but financial constraints limited their options. More importantly, she felt that if she were to leave, she would be perceived as the weaker party and as if she were at fault in the incident.
"I just want justice to be served," Han stated.
Hai Thu (According to *The Paper*)
