What did the suspect who held a knife to the female employee's neck and threatened to rob her of money say?

On the afternoon of August 2, Tan Phu District Police, Ho Chi Minh City, announced that they were detaining Vu Viet Tai (25 years old, residing in Phu Nhuan District, permanent resident in Tan Binh District) to investigate the act of robbery.

At the police station, Tai initially confessed that he had the intention of robbing because he lacked money to pay his debt. Tai proactively bought a knife with a sharp tip to use as a tool for the robbery.

Vu Viet Tai at the police station - Photo: Provided by the police

On July 30, Tai rode his motorbike from his residence (Ward 9, Phu Nhuan District) through many streets in Tan Phu District. When he left, Tai wore a hooded jacket, a mask, a helmet, and a backpack. At around 4:30 p.m. the same day, while riding past a telecommunications agency on Thach Lam Street (Phu Thanh Ward, Tan Phu District), Tai saw Ms. P. (28 years old, residing in District 5) working alone, with no security guard outside, so he went inside to control Ms. P. and rob her of her money.

Tai went into the store, approached Ms. P., handed her a piece of paper, and asked her to transfer nearly 50 million VND to the account number written on it. Because the amount was too large, Ms. P. told Tai that the store did not have enough money to transfer. Hearing that, Tai took back the piece of paper and went out.

A moment later, Tai returned and continued to give the old piece of paper to Ms. P. and asked her to transfer 10 million VND, and Ms. P. agreed. While Ms. P. was entering the account as Tai requested, Tai dropped the backpack he was wearing on his shoulder on the ground, then with one hand he grabbed Ms. P.'s neck, and with the other hand he held a knife to Ms. P.'s stomach.

Ms. P. was about to scream when Tai used a knife to control her neck and said: "Whether you want to live or die, this money is not yours, this money belongs to the State, put your hands on the table."

Seeing that Ms. P. did not resist, Tai brought the knife down and held it to Ms. P.'s stomach. Immediately, Ms. P. used both hands to grab the back of the knife, struggled with Tai, and both of them fell to the ground. At this time, Ms. P. kept shouting: "Robbery, robbery..." and grabbed the knife from Tai's hand. Tai quickly ran outside and got on his motorbike to escape.

The knife Vu Viet Tai used to control the female employee. Photo: Provided by the police

Through investigation, Tan Phu District Police learned that Tai was staying at a house on Do Tan Phong Street (Ward 9, Phu Nhuan District). At 0:00 on July 31, when Tai was at home, Tan Phu District Police invited him to the Ward 9 Police Station, Phu Nhuan District for questioning. At the police station, Tai admitted to all of the above crimes.

During the investigation, Tai confessed that the accounts in the piece of paper given to Ms. P. were virtual accounts that Tai had thought up and written on his own, not real. The purpose was to make Ms. P. lose her vigilance so that he could control her and rob her of the money at the telecommunications agency store.

Working with the police, Ms. P. said she had scratches on her chin and the back of her right hand due to a struggle with Tai.