Police in Hanoi apprehended and held in custody a man on Monday evening for allegedly molesting a nine-year-old local girl, about two weeks after he was released on bail by a district-level police unit following an arrest in late February.

The suspect is Nguyen Trong Trinh, 31, who resides in Hoa Chinh Town, Chuong My District, a police official confirmed on Tuesday morning.

Trinh’s arrest was to assist the investigation into the alleged sexual abuse of Q., a nine-year-old girl who lives in the neighborhood, which happened on February 24.

On that day, Q. was walking home after her English lesson when she was approached by Trinh, who said he was a friend of her parents and asked her to get on his motorbike.

Despite her refusal, Trinh forced the girl on his vehicle and took her to a nearby banana plantation, where he allegedly molested her. 

After noticing Q.’s absence, Nguyen Thi H., the girl’s mother, went looking for her and eventually found the daughter crying with blood on her face and clothes.

Q. and her injured right arm at her home in Chuong My District, Hanoi. Photo: P. Thao / Tuoi Tre

Q. said her right arm was in pain, while some of her teeth were broken and her genital was bleeding. Finger marks were also noticed on the child’s neck.

H. believed her daughter had been sexually assaulted and reported the incident to police in Chuong My District.

Officers later identified Trinh as the suspect and apprehended him on February 26, but released him on bail on March 6. Trinh was required not to get out of his place of residence. 

The decision to release the alleged sexual abuser met with fierce opposition from the public.

The Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs has also expressed its disagreement upon the decision of Chuong My police unit.

The Vietnam Association for Protection of Child's Rights on Tuesday sent a document to Hanoi police department and relevant agencies to demand justice for the victim.

The police agency then received the case and captured the suspect on the same day.

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