Police in Phan Rang-Thap Cham City, in south-central Ninh Thuan Province, reported that they have arrested seven thugs that assaulted a Ukrainian national and stole his handbag on Monday.

>> Crime on rise in HCMC The detainees are Dao Van He, 27; Dao Van Lam, 25; Dao Thanh Phong, 21; Nguyen Huu Sanh, 27; Vo Van Thong, 26; Pham Khac Phong, 17; and Dao Thanh Doan, 23. The first two are from Dong Hai Ward, Phan Rang-Thap Cham City, while the others are from Ninh Hai District, Ninh Thuan Province.    The victim was Mr. Dimitro Pachenko, 33, who works for Paga Anh Duong Tourism Company, whose office is located in the Con Ga Vang Tourist Center, in Ninh Hai District. On the afternoon of September 16, Pachenko was driving a motorbike on Yen Ninh Street in Phan Rang-Thap Cham when He, Doan and Phong, who were on a motorbike heading in the opposite direction, used a slipper to strike him on the face, making Pachenko fall off his bike. Two other thugs then appeared on a motorbike and crashed into Pachenko. Meanwhile two more men rushed to the victim and took his handbag from his shoulder.

All of the thugs escaped and Pachenko, who was injured in the assault, reported the case to police, who launched an investigation and seized all of the suspects three days later. Police have recovered the handbag, which contained an iPhone, US$4,300 and VND1.8 million ($85) in cash and returned it to the Ukrainian national.