Three paternal family members arrested for torturing 13-year-old girl

The 13-year-old girl's paternal grandmother and two others have been arrested after repeatedly assaulting the victim for hours with a wooden stick, knife blunt edge, broom, and pan.

On the afternoon of 21/11, the Thai Nguyen Provincial Police Investigation Agency announced the temporary detention of Nguyen Thi Bich Hang, 56, the girl's paternal grandmother; Luong Quoc Trung, 54, Hang's second husband; and Nguyen Ngoc Thanh, 60, Hang's brother. They face charges of intentional infliction of injury under clause one, article 134 of the Penal Code.

Hang has a prior conviction for fraud; Trung has 4 prior convictions for theft and intentional infliction of injury; and Thanh has two prior convictions for fraud and drug trafficking. Initial drug tests revealed that Hang and Thanh tested positive for drugs.

From left: suspects Thanh, Hang, Trung. Photo: Police provided

Investigation details reveal the 13-year-old girl lived with her father and paternal grandmother in Linh Son ward after her parents divorced 12 years ago. Recently, due to frequent complaints from her grandmother, the girl began spending more time with her mother.

Around 10 p.m. on 16/11, after spending two days with her biological mother, the girl returned to her grandmother's house. At this point, Hang and Trung accused the girl of "stealing money" and began interrogating and beating her with a wooden stick, the blunt edge of a knife, and a broom.

Due to the severe pain, the victim confessed to stealing money to make them stop, according to police.

The girl suffered injuries all over her body. Photo: Quynh Trang

However, Thanh twisted the girl's arm, demanding the money back. Unable to respond as she had not stolen anything, Thanh and Trung dragged her to the kitchen area. They continued to beat her, forcing her to confess and surrender the alleged stolen money.

After 4 hours of continuous torture, described as "medieval," the victim managed to escape around 2 a.m. on 17/11. She climbed through a kitchen window, jumped out, and fled across a field behind the house. Exhausted, she collapsed by the roadside and slept until 5 a.m., when residents found her covered in bruises and came to her aid.

"My grandmother said I took 3,5 million VND, so everyone ganged up and beat me. But the truth is, I didn't steal her money," the girl recounted.