A delivery man from Quang Ngai Province, central Vietnam was hospitalized on Friday for treatment for two broken arms as he had been earlier attacked by a couple with an iron tube, a flower pot, and two chairs after having asked them to pay delivery costs.

The delivery worker, named Lam Anh Dat, a 24-year-old resident of Nghia Hanh District, Quang Ngai Province, is being treated at the C17 Military Hospital in Da Nang, also located in the central region.

At about 11:00 am on Friday, Dat delivered two pinkster flower trees worth VND200,000 (US$8.4) to Truong Dinh Nhat in Tu Nghia District, Quang Ngai at a delivery cost of VND30,000 ($1.3), he recalled.

As Nhat refused to receive the trees, Dat called the seller to inform them of the case and gave his mobile phone to Nhat so that he could talk with the seller.

“They had an argument on the phone for some 10 minutes," Dat said.

"When giving back the mobile phone to me, Nhat was irritated.”

Dat later told Nhat to pay the delivery cost, adding that the two pinkster flower trees would be returned to the seller.

However, Nhat said, “Do you believe that I will hit you?”

“I told him that I am just a delivery man and when customers refuse to receive any shipment, I'll have to still collect the delivery cost,” Dat recounted.

Nhat then kicked Dat hard, punched him, and used a flower pot to hit him in his head.

Nhat also asked his wife to close their house gate and grabbed an iron tube, while his wife used two stainless steel chairs, to attack Dat.

At the time, Dat wore a helmet, so his head was not injured seriously.

Dat later opened the gate to escape. He hid himself in another house and asked a resident to inform the local police of the case.

“Many residents witnessed Nhat and his wife’s attack on me. While hiding in a local resident’s house, I heard that Nhat was stilk looking for me while holding a knife.”

Dat was taken to the Quang Ngai General Hospital at 2:00 pm on Friday for treatment for multiple injuries.

Due to his severe condition, he was later transferred to the C17 Military Hospital in Da Nang.

Doctors there said that he had to undergo a surgery.

Police officers of Tu Nghia District have asked Nhat to come to the police station for questioning and they are waiting for conclusions on Dat’s level of injury to handle the case.

Han Thi Thuy, deputy director of communications and external relations at Giao Hang Tiet Kiem (Economical Delivery) JSC, the company for which Dat is working, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that the worker was completely correct when demanding the delivery cost from Nhat even though he did not receive the goods.

Nhat’s refusal to take delivery of the goods and pay the delivery cost was wrong and his physical attack on Dat went against the law.

“Knowing of the incident, the company’s representatives have immediately come to the hospital to visit Dat and support him with treatment costs," Thuy said.

“We strongly criticize those compromising the health and lives of others with their deviant behaviors.

"The company is actively cooperating with police officers in strictly handling Nhat in line with the law.”

Giao Hang Tiet Kiem has no regulations on the buyer’s payment of delivery costs if they turn down the goods sent. Sellers and buyers will negotiate on the payment of the costs.

As Nhat did not agree to receive the shipment, Dat allowed him and the seller to discuss the refusal on the phone, which conforms to the company’s rules.

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