A former traffic police officer in Ho Chi Minh City has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for fatally assaulting a traffic violator.

The municipal People’s Court on Friday afternoon announced the final ruling for Pham Sy Hoai Nhu, a former traffic police in Tan Binh District, and his accomplices for being involved in the death of Nguyen Van Chin.

Nhu, 35, and Nguyen Minh Chung, 24, were condemned to a 12-year jail term, while Pham Thanh Kim Hanh, 18, Tran Duc Vung, 19, and Ngo Thanh Vuong, 19, will be put behind bars for between five and 11 years.

According to the indictment, Chin was riding his motorcycle in Tan Phu District on the night of June 25, 2014 when he was pulled over by traffic cops for purportedly being under the influence of alcohol.

He refused to neither have his blood alcohol measured nor sign a police report before starting an argument with the officers.

Nhu, one of the traffic cops, decided to contact Chung, a friend of his, asking him to ‘teach’ Chin ‘a lesson.’

Chung later arrived with Hanh, Vung, and Vuong, luring Chin to an isolated area and beating him unconscious.

After regaining his awareness, Chin called for help and was brought to the hospital for emergency treatment, but subsequently succumbed to his wounds on June 27.

Denial

While other defendants pleaded guilty, Nhu insisted on denying his charges, affirming that he only called Chung to take Chin home.

Meanwhile, Chung’s statement indicated that the ex-officer specifically wanted him to attack the victim.

The People’s Procuracy also stated they had sufficient evidence to charge Nhu with attempted assault.

Procurators confirmed that Chin’s death was due to the rupture of his small intestine, based on the result of an autopsy conducted by professional agencies.

After reviewing the evidence and defendants’ statements at the court, the jury ruled Nhu was guilty, considering him the mastermind behind the fatal attack.

Such behavior is unacceptable for a law enforcer, the jury asserted, adding that severe punishment must be imposed to deter similar crimes.

Aside from their sentences, the convicts will have to pay VND241 million (US$10,842) in damages to Chin’s family and a monthly amount of VND4 million ($179.9) for the victim’s two children until they are 18 years old.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!