On 23/4/2026, Nho was sentenced to one year three months in prison for resisting persons on public duty by the People's Court of Area 4, Tay Ninh province, during an online trial.
In his final statement, the defendant expressed deep remorse, apologized to the traffic police force, and requested a reduced sentence.
According to the indictment, on the morning of 23/11/2025, Nho was picked up by Chau Minh Chi, 24, in a pickup truck. When Chi complained of fatigue, Nho took over driving despite not having a driver's license. To avoid automated traffic fines, Nho attached a fake license plate, which he had purchased online previously, to the vehicle.
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Nguyen Vo Hoai Nho during the online trial. *Photo: Hoang Nam*. |
Around 8h30, while driving on provincial road 816 from national highway 1A towards national highway N2, near the base of the expressway bridge in Binh Duc commune, Nho encountered a speed check by Road Traffic Police Team 2 of the Provincial Traffic Police Department. Traveling at 62 km/h, Nho was exceeding the speed limit and was signaled to stop by the team leader.
Nho refused to comply, accelerating and fleeing. Traffic police officer Trinh Dinh Khoan immediately pursued on a specialized police motorcycle, simultaneously requesting local forces via radio to set up roadblocks.
About half an hour later, upon reaching Ba Thien bridge in hamlet 5, Binh Duc commune, Nho found his path blocked by a parked truck, forcing him to turn around to find an escape route. When officer Khoan blocked his way with the specialized police motorcycle, Nho accelerated, ramming the police vehicle. Officer Khoan was thrown off but fortunately sustained no injuries.
Nho continued driving to the front of the Binh Duc Commune Party Committee headquarters, turned into a residential area for about 300 meters, then stopped. He removed the two fake license plates, threw them into a canal, abandoned the vehicle, and fled on foot. Traffic police later discovered the pickup truck abandoned by the roadside.
Verification revealed the vehicle's real license plate was 60C-736.65, and its owner had rented it to Chi for three months. The owner was unaware that Nho was using the vehicle for illegal activities.
Investigators determined that Chi did not encourage Nho to flee and was therefore not an accomplice. Chi will only face administrative penalties for lending a vehicle to an unqualified driver.
Authorities are also considering additional penalties for Nho for offenses including: using an improperly registered license plate, speeding, and driving without a license.
Hoang Nam
