Prisoner holds razor blade to officer's neck and demands to change camp

(Baonghean.vn) - While in prison, Cong brought half a razor blade to the infirmary, stood behind the officer and used his right hand to strangle him, while his left hand pressed the razor blade against his neck, demanding to be transferred to another camp.

On the afternoon of August 24, Tan Ky District People's Court tried the criminal case against Pham Minh Cong (born in 1994, residing in Tri Ton District - An Giang), a prisoner of Sub-camp K2, Prison No. 3, Tan Ky, Nghe An) for the crime of "Illegal detention".

According to the indictment, at about 7:30 a.m. on April 25, 2017, prisoner Pham Minh Cong, carrying half a razor blade, went from cell I.4 to the infirmary of Sub-camp No. 2, Prison No. 3, General Department VIII, Ministry of Public Security to ask for medicine.

Prisoner Pham Minh Cong in court. Photo: Phuong Hao

When he arrived at the room and saw Ms. Nguyen Thi Dung (a hospital staff member) working in the room, Cong went in and stood behind Ms. Dung, used his right hand to strangle her, used his left hand to hold a razor blade to Ms. Dung's neck and said, "If you scream, I will slash your face."

Because she was scared, Ms. Dung shouted for help, but Cong pulled her from her desk to the front door of the infirmary's restroom to barricade herself and demand that the Board of Directors change prisons.

At this time, prisoner Doan Van Nghia (a medical assistant at the infirmary) ran over and saw what was happening and tried to intervene, but prisoner Cong did not let go and continued to strangle and drag Ms. Dung. A moment later, other prisoners working nearby heard her cries for help and ran to rescue her, took Ms. Dung outside and restrained prisoner Cong and handed her over to the prison officer on duty.

At the investigation agency as well as at the trial, defendant Pham Minh Cong confessed to all the acts he had committed as stated in the indictment.

Considering the nature of the case, it was not serious, but the incident occurred in a prison, affecting security and order as well as the rehabilitation environment of other prisoners, causing panic and hesitation among the prisoners.

When committing the crime, the defendant was aware that using a razor blade to control and hold Ms. Dung hostage to demand a change of camp was not only a violation of the law but also an infringement on the honor of the officers on duty at the camp, so he needed to be severely punished.

The defendant has committed a dangerous recidivism, has not had his criminal record cleared, and now commits a crime intentionally, so the defendant must bear the aggravating circumstance of dangerous recidivism.

The panel sentenced Pham Minh Cong to 18 months in prison. Combining the remaining sentences of the previous sentence for the crimes of: "Illegal arrest and detention; Robbery; Disturbing public order; Intentionally causing injury", defendant Pham Minh Cong must serve a total sentence for both sentences of 9 years, 9 months and 13 days in prison.

Phuong Hao