Investigation into the case of sending a 3-year-old child for medical treatment and unexpectedly receiving an urn of ashes

According to the report, on March 3, 2022, the family of Mr. Nguyen Huu Nghia, residing in Phu Nhuan ward, Hue city (Thua Thien Hue) brought his son, Nguyen Lam Minh Quan (3 years old), to Bao Loc city (Lam Dong) and handed him over to Mr. Le Minh Quang (25 years old, residing in Xuan Phu ward, Hue city) for treatment of mental retardation. After that, Mr. Quang took Quan to his rented house in Loc Tien ward, Bao Loc city for care and treatment.

At the press conference on the afternoon of September 12, Colonel Dinh Xuan Huy - Deputy Director of Lam Dong Provincial Police affirmed that the case is still under investigation.

On March 25, 2022, Quan died of unknown causes at Mr. Quang's boarding house. Mr. Quang cremated Quan's body, put the ashes in a ceramic jar, brought it to Hue City and gave it to Mr. Nghia, and announced that Quan died of Covid-19. Suspecting that Mr. Quang had sexually assaulted Quan, Mr. Nghia wrote a complaint to the Hue City Police Department.

On March 31, 2022, the Investigation Police Agency of Hue City Police transferred the criminal complaint and related documents to the Investigation Police Agency of Lam Dong Province Police for settlement according to its authority. On August 16, 2022, the Investigation Police Agency of Lam Dong Province Police issued a decision to temporarily suspend the settlement of the criminal complaint of Mr. Nguyen Huu Nghia.

According to Colonel Dinh Xuan Huy, the reason for the temporary suspension of the settlement is due to the need to follow procedural rules (with time limits). However, the police will continue with related investigation activities and when the results of the appraisal are available, the investigation will be resumed immediately.