Two former police officers received 150 million VND to release a suspect serving a prison sentence.

On July 9, the Hanoi People's Court tried two defendants, Pham Xuan Tien (42 years old, former lieutenant colonel) and Nguyen Tien Dung (29 years old, former lieutenant of Thanh Tri District Police) for the crime of accepting bribes.

According to the indictment and trial proceedings, in 2016, the two defendants Tien and Dung accepted the case of illegal possession of narcotics. The representative of the Procuracy accused: During the course of the investigation, Tien and Dung asked the family of the suspect Ta Duy Thanh to give 150 million VND so that Thanh could return home.

Specifically, on April 27, 2016, Ta Duy Thanh was arrested while traveling in a taxi with a package of drugs. The suspect denied it, saying he did not know whose package of drugs it belonged to. According to the indictment of the Procuracy, on the morning of April 28, 2016, when the suspect's family, Ms. Ly, came to visit, Dung directed Tien to "suggest" giving 150 million to release the suspect.

After Ms. Ly borrowed enough money to give to Dung, suspect Thanh was released that same afternoon.

In court, Dung did not admit to the crime. According to Dung, he only followed the instructions of his superior, defendant Pham Xuan Tien. The 150 million VND, according to Dung, was money given by the family of suspect Thanh to "compensate his brothers".

During the discussion with the two defendants about giving 150 million VND, Ms. Ly recorded it and then submitted it to the police. The prosecution agency considered that Ms. Ly's behavior had signs of the crime of Bribery. However, this was an action that occurred because Ms. Ly was forced to give money, plus she actively reported it, so there was no basis for criminal prosecution.

The People's Court sentenced Pham Xuan Tien to 7 years and 6 months in prison and defendant Nguyen Tien Dung to 7 years in prison for accepting bribes./.