Trial at Gateway School

The trial opened at the People's Court of Cau Giay District, chaired by Judge Nguyen Quoc Tuan. 10 lawyers participated in protecting the legal rights and interests of the defendants, the victims' families and Gateway School.

The People's Court of Cau Giay District plans to invite 25 witnesses and two experts from the Institute of Criminal Science (Ministry of Public Security). Representatives of Gateway School and Ngan Ha Transport and Tourism Company Limited were invited to court as parties with related rights and obligations.

Homeroom teacher Nguyen Thi Thuy (29 years old) was tried for the crimeLack of responsibility causes serious consequences,According to Article 360 ​​of the 2015 Penal Code, driver Doan Quy Phien (53 years old) and Nguyen Bich Quy (55 years old, who picked up and dropped off students at Gateway School) were tried for the crime.Involuntary manslaughter,According to Article 128. The penalty for prosecution of both crimes ranges from non-custodial reform to three years or imprisonment to five years.

According to the indictment, on August 1, 2019, Ngan Ha Company signed a contract to rent Mr. Phien's car for one year with an agreement that the driver would be responsible for picking up and dropping off students and transporting them safely. Three days later, a company representative verbally agreed with Ms. Quy to act as a supervisor and follow Mr. Phien's car. Ms. Quy was responsible for checking and taking attendance of students to avoid forgetting them.

At around 6am on August 6, 2019, driver Phien drove a car to pick up Ms. Quy to pick up 13 students to take them to Gateway School on Khuc Thua Du Street, Cau Giay District. Among them was a 6-year-old boy named Le Hoang Long. At 7:22am, the car arrived at the school's side gate.

Mr. Phien was still in the driver's seat, Mrs. Quy took the students to school, but forgot Long in the car. After finishing the job, she signed the operation room's book, reporting that all 13 students had been picked up and dropped off.

Driver Phien, after parking the car more than a kilometer away from the school, locked the door and left without checking inside. At 3:30 p.m. the same day, he returned the car to the school gate to pick up the children. Mrs. Quy opened the door and found Long motionless on the floor behind the driver's seat. The child died before reaching the emergency room, due to "respiratory and circulatory failure and heat shock."

The indictment determined that Ms. Quy was negligent in checking and managing students going to class. Mr. Phien did not check the passenger compartment, leading to Long being forgotten in the car from about 7:23 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. in the hot, sunny weather.

When taking attendance, homeroom teacher Thuy knew Long was absent without reason but did not contact or discuss with his parents.

In addition to the three people above, the authorities said that other related people such as the principal, the person in charge of discipline, the academic staff... had fulfilled their assigned duties and tasks. Principal Duong Thi Hoai Anh had applied for sick leave since June 1, 2019, so she was not responsible.