Dr Nguyen Manh Tuong, the owner of Hanoi-based Cat Tuong Beauty Salon, who threw the body of a woman who died at his salon post-surgery into the Hong (Red) River, has been charged with two offenses, police reported.

>> Minister speaks out on ‘ruthless’ corpse cover-up>> More victims of doctor dumping client’s body hospitalized>> Killer doctor operates illegally; body dumped into river still not found Tuong, 40, has been charged with “breaching regulations on medical examination and treatment, drug production, preparations, supply and sale or other medical services,” under Article 242 of the Penal Code, and “interfering with human corpses, graves and/or remains,” in pursuant to Article 246 of the Code, Hanoi police said on Thursday. The indictment for Tuong, a doctor at Hanoi-based Bach Mai Hospital, has been ratified by the Hanoi People’s Procuracy.    Tuong, along with the salon’s security guard Dao Quang Khanh, was arrested on October 22, three days after he committed the terrible crime that has stirred up anger and indignation among the public. Also yesterday, Hanoi People’s Committee deputy chairwoman Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc requested that the director of the Health Department and the chairperson of Hai Ba Trung District People’s Committee identify any persons or agencies that should be held responsible for the death of 37-year-old Nguyen Thi Thanh Huyen at Cat Tuong. As previously reported, Dr. Tuong conducted a botched abdomen liposuction and breast lift on Huyen on October 19, leading to her death the same day.

Cat Tuong Beauty Salon, at 45 Giai Phong Street, Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi, where 37-year-old Nguyen Thi Thanh Huyen died on October 19, 2013  (Photo: Tuoi Tre)

After she died, Tuong and his salon’s security guard carried the woman’s body to the Thanh Tri Bridge in Hanoi and threw it into the Hong River below in an attempt to cover up the case. After Tuong’s arrest, both police and Hanoi Health Department confirmed that his salon operated without a license.

Following the deadly incident at Cat Tuong, the Ministry of Health has ordered comprehensive inspections at all beauty shops nationwide. The order was signed by Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Thi Xuyen on October 24, in which the ministry requested that local health departments in all provinces and cities conduct examinations in all aspects of operations at health facilities that provide beauty services including cosmetic and plastic surgeries. The ministry has also said it will set up five teams this week to conduct comprehensive health inspections, including those at beauty service providers, in 10 major provinces and cities. Each team is led by a deputy minister, who will focus the team’s activities on detecting and correcting shortcomings and management loopholes, enforcing compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and initiating solutions to problems facing the health sector.