Statement of the subject who used gasoline to control a 4-year-old child to collect debt

On March 11, Bien Hoa City Police (Dong Nai) said they were temporarily detaining Ngo Quy Phuong (29 years old, from Thua Thien - Hue) to continue investigating the case of him locking the door and locking a 4-year-old boy in the house, pouring gasoline on the floor and threatening to set himself on fire.

Scene of the incident. Photo: KT

At the police station, Phuong confessed that in early 2020, he had subcontracted a total of 11 construction projects in Ho Chi Minh City to Mr. LVT (36 years old, from Khanh Hoa). During the construction of the projects he had received from Mr. T., Phuong spent money to buy materials, workers, etc. with a total amount of 680 million VND.

After completing the projects, Mr. T. received money from the investors but did not pay Phuong. Phuong met Mr. T. many times to ask for payment but he did not pay. By the end of 2020, Mr. T. fled his residence.

In early March 2023, Phuong accidentally met Ms. NTT (Mr. T's wife) through Facebook, then Phuong learned that Mr. T's family was staying in Bien Hoa City. After that, Phuong traveled from Ho Chi Minh City to Bien Hoa City many times to find Mr. T's family and discovered that Mr. T's son was studying at a secondary school in Bien Hoa City, so she had the idea of ​​kidnapping him to collect debt.

At around 1pm on March 10, Phuong bought gasoline, poured it into a plastic bottle and went to the school where Mr. T.'s child studied to wait. Late in the afternoon, Phuong chased after Mr. T.'s child and asked him to take her home in Trang Dai ward.

Then, Phuong and Mr. T.'s eldest child went to a kindergarten to pick up LAT (4 years old, Mr. T.'s son) and wait at home. Phuong asked her friend to buy more gasoline and bring it to her.

At around 5:15 p.m., Ms. T. returned home to meet Phuong, who demanded a debt. Ms. T. said she didn't know, then went outside. At this time, Phuong locked the door, locked the 4-year-old child inside with her, poured gasoline on the floor, and threatened that if Mr. T. didn't pay, he would burn the house down and die with the child.

Nearby residents discovered the incident and quickly reported it to local authorities.

Upon receiving the news, Major General Nguyen Sy Quang - Director of Dong Nai Police Department directly went to the scene to organize the rescue of the child.

Dong Nai Police Director directly took the suspect's statement. Photo: CACC

Realizing that the suspect's behavior was very reckless and potentially risky, Colonel Nguyen Ngoc Quang - Deputy Director of Dong Nai Police directly persuaded Phuong not to act rashly and make more mistakes.

After about 2 hours of persuasion and taking advantage of loopholes, the detectives rushed in to control the subject and successfully rescued the child.