Drug possession related to the death of a police lieutenant prosecuted

Lan Anh• August 18, 2018 07:07

While escorting Dang to the house for drug search, Vinh Long police lieutenant mistakenly drank a cup of water mixed with crystal meth, leading to his death.

Nguyen Huu Dang was prosecuted for "Illegal possession of narcotics".

On August 17, Long Ho District Police (Vinh Long Province) announced that the investigation agency had prosecuted and temporarily detained Nguyen Huu Dang (21 years old, residing in Thanh Duc Commune) for 3 months to investigate the act of "Illegal possession of narcotics".

According to the police, on the evening of July 13, Lieutenant Nguyen Duc Dat (Economic Crime Investigation Police Team - Drugs, Long Ho District Police) and his teammates participated in catching a group of subjects illegally storing and using drugs in Long Phuoc commune, Long Ho district.

When Lieutenant Dat and his teammates arrested Dang in Phuoc Trinh hamlet and took him to the nearby house of Mrs. Tran Thi Phen for questioning, after about 10 minutes, Mrs. Phen opened the door. At the house, there was Vo Minh Tan (26 years old), who had a relationship with Dang and was suspected of possessing drugs.

Checking the side of Mrs. Phen’s house, the task force discovered a group of drug users. While the task force was making a report, Lieutenant Dat was thirsty so he took a plastic cup from the area in front of Tan’s bedroom to drink.

Afterwards, Nguyen Huu Dang returned to the commune police station to work. According to the results of the examination, Dang had a nylon bag containing crystal meth in his pocket and was prosecuted for criminal responsibility.

As for Lieutenant Dat, when he arrived at the Commune Police Station, he showed unusual signs, so his teammates and family took him to Vinh Long Provincial General Hospital for emergency treatment by Long Ho District Police car.

The water jug containing the drug-laced liquid that Lieutenant Dat drank.

According to the hospital report, Dat was admitted to the hospital at 11:52 p.m. the same day in a state of agitation, screaming, and panic. The nurse who received him fixed the patient's hands to the bed, and the doctor on duty determined that this was a behavioral disorder, a manifestation of acute mental illness. The doctor explained to the family that the hospital did not have a psychiatric department, so he suggested taking the patient to the Mental Hospital.

At 0:15 on July 14, Dat was taken to the Mental Hospital in a deep coma, unconscious. After more than an hour of intensive resuscitation, the patient's heart and breathing stopped, the emergency operation was unsuccessful. The family took Dat back to Vinh Long Provincial General Hospital and he was diagnosed dead before entering the hospital for unknown reasons.

Afterwards, the investigation agency conducted an autopsy and determined that Dat died of drug poisoning.

At Mrs. Phen's house, the investigation agency seized a plastic jug that someone saw Dat drinking, inside there was 500ml of light yellow liquid. The results of the examination showed that the liquid in the sealed plastic jug was Methamphetamine (ice drug) in 500ml sample was more than 10 grams. According to the assessment, Tan was afraid of being discovered so he put the drugs in the plastic jug to hide the evidence.

Regarding the incident, Mr. Lu Quang Ngoi - Vice Chairman of Vinh Long Provincial People's Committee said that currently, specialized sectors are considering clarifying the responsibilities of individuals and groups in the death of Lieutenant Nguyen Duc Dat.

The professional council will review the patient admission process and the doctor's professional handling to reach a reasonable conclusion.

Vinh Long Provincial Police also requested clarification of whether or not there was any "passing of the buck" in emergency care for Lieutenant Dat.

Long Ho District Police are also clarifying the roles and responsibilities of the working group that went to arrest drug dealers with Lieutenant Dat on the evening of July 13.

Lan Anh