Former police officer convicted of fraud cries continuously in court

From a police officer, Ho Trung Tu was sentenced to 11 years in prison for fraud and property appropriation. Photo: Diep Thanh

On April 9, the Hanoi People's Court brought defendant Ho Van Tu (29 years old, in Chuong My district, Hanoi) to trial and sentenced him to 11 years in prison for fraud and property appropriation.

From the beginning to the end of the trial, the former police officer continuously wiped away tears. Defendant Tu lost his future and career, and had to pay the price with a long sentence behind bars.

According to the indictment, Ho Van Tu was a former police officer of Chuong My district.

During his time living and working here, Tu had a close relationship with Mr. Nguyen Chi Muoi. Therefore, Tu often borrowed Mr. Muoi's Camry car worth nearly 1 billion VND as a means of transportation.

Around the beginning of October 2015, Tu fell into debt. To have money to pay off the debt, the former district police officer came up with the idea of ​​borrowing Mr. Muoi's car to pawn.

Investigation documents show that at noon on October 14, 2015, Tu went to Mr. Muoi's house to borrow a car to take his biological parents to the bus station to return to their hometown in Nghe An.

Thinking it was real, Mr. Muoi lent Tu the car without knowing that the person who borrowed the car later pawned the vehicle to Mr. Nguyen Dac Huy (in Ha Dong district) for 600 million VND.

When pawning, Tu told Mr. Huy that the car was newly purchased and had not been registered to the new owner.

After receiving the money, Tu paid off his debt, spent it all, and then fled. Before leaving, this former police officer wrote a letter to his biological mother, asking her to tell Mr. Muoi that Tu had pawned the car.

On October 15, 2015, Mr. Muoi did not see Tu return the car or answer his phone calls, so he reported it to the Chuong My District Police.

Because Tu was on the run, Hanoi police issued a wanted notice. At the end of May 2017, Tu surrendered.

Present in court, Tu stated that he had no intention of defrauding or appropriating property. After the incident, the defendant was very remorseful and regretful. During his testimony, Tu repeatedly wiped away tears.

Later, at the suggestion of his lawyer, Tu returned to apologize to Mr. Muoi and Mr. Huy. The former police officer hoped to receive forgiveness from the victims because now he had lost his career and future.

"I hope you forgive me so I can have a chance to start my life over and raise my children," defendant Tu said, then quickly wiped away the tears that were about to fall.

Present in court, defendant Tu's wife said that her husband was a police officer but did not give her money to shop or raise children.

Having the last word before the jury deliberated, the former police officer continued to cry and apologize to his relatives and the victims./.