GrabBike driver admits to harassing 9-year-old girl
The driver admitted to verbal sexual harassment while taking the 9-year-old girl to school.
On May 20, information from Tay Ho District Police, Hanoi said that after being invited to work, Grab driver Pham Van Hai (born 1988, local) admitted to verbal sexual harassment while taking a 9-year-old girl to school.
Specifically, on the way, driver Hai continuously asked the little girl "sensitive" questions.
After clarifying the behavior of driver Pham Van Hai, the police agency allowed this person to return home to continue completing the case file for handling according to legal regulations.
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An officer from the Criminal Police Team - Tay Ho District Police said that the driver's behavior violated the law, but such words did not reach the level of considering criminal prosecution.
"We are reviewing and completing the file to handle this driver's administrative actions," said the officer.
From a legal perspective, lawyer Dang Van Cuong (Hanoi Bar Association) said that the Law has not yet determined that sexual harassment by words is an obscene act, therefore, criminal prosecution of this act is difficult to carry out.
In the case of this Grab driver, lawyer Cuong stated that he used words that were not in accordance with ethical and cultural standards, causing psychological, physical, and emotional harm to the child. The driver's behavior showed signs of child abuse.
Depending on the nature and severity of the violation, the driver may be subject to administrative sanctions according to Article 5 of Decree 167/2013/ND-CP, which regulates administrative sanctions for violations in the fields of security, order, social safety, prevention of social evils, fire prevention and fighting; and prevention of domestic violence.
Specifically, a warning or a fine of 100,000-300,000 VND will be imposed for any of the following rude, provocative, teasing gestures or words that offend the honor and dignity of others.
Lawyer Cuong said that a fine of no more than 300,000 VND for this act is low, while the psychological damage to children cannot be measured.