Wanted, used many "escape" tricks but still got caught

Slashing people after a reconciliation drinking party

Stepping down from the van when being transferred to the Nghe An Provincial Police Department, Ho Viet Hien (born in 1966, residing in Nghia Hieu Commune, Nghia Dan, Nghe An) had a frightened expression on his face. Just a few days ago, when he was handcuffed in a shack by the sea, Hien was calmly ready to accept the consequences of his actions after many years of hiding.

Subject Ho Viet Hien. Photo: Dam Phuong

Hien is a wanted person listed as especially dangerous by the Criminal Police Department. Hien is not only wanted for “Intentionally causing injury”, but also has two previous convictions for “Intentionally causing injury” with a sentence of 78 months in prison (in 2003) resulting in death and “Property destruction” with a sentence of 8 months in prison (in 2008).

Although he had been to prison twice, Hien not only failed to “understand” but also acted recklessly. When he was released from prison and returned home, Hien showed that he was not afraid of anyone and was ready to fight if anyone dared to touch him.

On January 1, 2016, Hien and a group of people gathered to drink alcohol in Nghia Lien commune, Nghia Dan. That night, Hien acted as the “host” to resolve the conflict between Thai Ba Cuong and Nguyen Sy Phuc.

Thinking he was the “big brother”, during the drinking party, Hien loudly yelled and threatened the people sitting around. With another glass of wine in his system, Hien tried to attack Phuc but was stopped in time.

With the blood of a gangster in him, Hien thought that letting Phuc go would be embarrassing. On the way home, when passing by the blacksmith shop, Hien ran in to get 2 machetes and returned to the shop to find Phuc. Seeing Hien holding the knife in his hand, Phuc called Nguyen Van Quang (born in 1985, residing in Nghia Lien commune, Nghia Dan) for help.

When Quang arrived at the bar, Hien used a machete to chop him straight in the head. Quang ran away but Hien still held the knife and chased after him until he was stopped by people. After slashing Quang, Hien did not dare to return home and fled. After many days of investigation, on March 14, 2016, Nghia Dan District Police issued a wanted notice for Ho Viet Hien for the crime of "Intentionally causing injury".

The failed escape

In the following days, Hien hid everywhere but could not find a place to stay. Borrowing some money, Hien got on a bus and fled to the southern provinces. Having no relatives, Hien wandered around, working for hire to make a living at the markets. Thinking that staying in one place for too long would expose him, Hien went to Khanh Hoa province and asked to work at shrimp farms in Cam Ranh city to make a living.

Ho Viet Hien and many other wanted subjects were extradited to Nghe An by the Criminal Police Department's working group. Photo: Dam Phuong

Here, Hien lived a secluded life, limiting communication with people around him. Seeing that Hien was quiet, reserved, and hard-working, a woman fell in love with him and they lived together as husband and wife. It was thought that Hien's life would change, but after getting married, Hien refused to work and instead indulged in drinking.

These days, Hien has no idea that the police are still searching for him to bring him in to face his sentence. Determined to capture this particularly dangerous fugitive, the Criminal Investigation Department of Nghe An Province Police established a special project codenamed 218C, and at the same time sent experienced and skilled detectives to participate in the investigation.

After a period of verification, at the end of 2017, a source said that Ho Viet Hien was living in the coastal area of ​​Cam Ranh city, Khanh Hoa province. Immediately, PC52 Nghe An Police sent a working group to Khanh Hoa. The working group coordinated with Khanh Hoa Provincial Police to develop a plan to arrest him. However, when the police arrived, Hien got wind of the situation and escaped.

After that escape, Hien was more vigilant. He did not dare to hang around on shore anymore but asked to go out to sea with a fishing boat. During the days at sea, because he was not used to the wind and waves, Hien had to go back to shore and then continued to work for a sea bass farm owner in Tam Nghia ward, Cam Ranh city.

Knowing that Hien had come ashore and was working in a shrimp pond, a task force from PC52 set out to arrest him. At around 11:30 a.m. on January 30, Ho Viet Hien was holding a bowl of rice when he heard footsteps approaching him. Through the gap in the shrimp pond, Hien saw the silhouettes of the police force, but it was too late. Hien was handcuffed to the astonishment of many people around.

Captain Phan Minh Loc - Head of the special wanted team said: "As soon as he saw the task force, Hien remained calm and asked to finish his last free meal."

On the morning of February 9, after being transferred to the provincial police headquarters, Ho Viet Hien was handed over by PC52 to Nghia Dan district police for further investigation according to the law.