Vietnam Jails 4 Cops for Torturing Leading to Suspect Death

các bị cáo là sỹ quan công an

These officers had handcuffed Kieu at his home and took him to a police station without a warrant, according to the indictment.

After being beaten by the interrogating officers, Kieu died of cerebral hemorrhaging and other injuries. The victim has two small children.

By Vu Quoc Ngu | Apr 16, 2015 (Defend the Defenders)

Four Vietnamese police officers in the central province of Phu Yen have been imprisoned for torturing bringing about the death of a local resident, state media reported.

The provincial People’s Court on April 15 sentenced Nguyen Than Thao Thanh, who claimed that he did not beat Mr. Kieu, to eight years in prison, the longest prison term, Nguyen Minh Quyen and Pham Ngoc Man to respective two and half years and two and three months in jail while Nguyen Tan Quang was given with two years in prison.

Le Duc Hoan, vice police chief in Tuy Hoa city, was given a nine-month suspension for his “negligence of responsibility, causing serious consequences,” according to Article 285 of the Criminal Code. He was in charge of investigation of Mr. Kieu’s case.

According to the investigation conclusion, these former police officers used rubber batons to violently beat Kieu’s head and body during an interrogation, leading to his death on May 13, 2012.

These officers had handcuffed Kieu at his home and took him to a police station without a warrant, according to the indictment.

After being beaten by the interrogating officers, Kieu died of cerebral hemorrhaging and other injuries. The victim has two small children.

The family of victim Ngo Thanh Kieu said it dissatisfied with the sentences which are not different from the first hearing. The family has demanded tough sentences for these officers who beat Mr. Kieu to dead during interrogation for his involvement in a property stealing in May 2012.

The trial outcome is illegal and the family will appeal to the Supreme People’s Court, said Nguyen Van Than, the father of the victim.

The victim’s lawyers said that the court seems to let criminals at large. It should try these police officers on allegation of illegal arrest, murder, false case files and intentional injury.

The court said its sentences were given after taking into consideration of the contributions of the police officers involving in torturing Kieu.

After the hearing, the media reported widespread public discontent with the verdict, saying the punishments were too lenient.

Last year, President Truong Tan Sang directed concerned agencies to punish the officers more strictly.

Torture is systematic in the one-party Vietnam where the police forces are considered the main power to protect the regime.

According to the Ministry of Public Security, 226 detainees died in police detention facilities between October 2011 and September 2014.

Four people have been found dead in police stations so far this year.

The police argued that most of the deaths were caused by illness and suicides, however, families of the victims said they died from police torture.

Last year, Minister of Public Security admitted that 19 police officers have been fired for torturing suspects between 2011 and 2013. During the same period, 183 others were disciplined for violating investigative procedures and regulations through dismissal, demotion or reassignment.

According to a report on legal miscarriage, there are 46 denouncements against police officers on torture. In some cases, a group of five-seven police investigators participated in torture and coercions.

In 2014, Vietnam ratified the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.