Nurses and caregivers of Central Mental Hospital 1 were arrested
Nurse Nguyen Thi Minh Hue and nursing assistant Bui Thi Hat of Central Mental Hospital 1 were accused of assisting patients in organizing drug use.
Decision to prosecute defendants Hue and Hat for crimesOrganizing illegal use of drugsissued by Hanoi Police on July 8.
The two defendants worked at the Department of Rehabilitation and Traditional Medicine - where Nguyen Xuan Quy, the leader of a drug trafficking ring and drug room at the hospital, was directly treated.
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| Quy converted the hospital room into a shaking room. Photo: Pham Du. |
According to the investigation, Quy, 38 years old, was receiving psychiatric treatment atCentral Psychiatric Hospital 1from November 2018. A year later, he was transferred to the Department of Rehabilitation and Traditional Medicine. During his treatment, Quy escaped from the hospital many times. In early January, he was arrested by Hai Ba Trung District Police for illegal possession of drugs, but due to his mental illness, he was returned to the hospital for treatment.
Authorities allege that, due to his long stay at the hospital, Quy had established close relationships with some of the staff and was given free access to his activities and accommodation as needed. Taking advantage of this loophole, in early February, Quy converted the treatment room into a soundproof room, installed large speakers, and laser lights to facilitate the illegal use of drugs. Quy and his subordinates invited friends to use drugs there.
Quy also organized drug sales at the hospital. The buyers would pretend to be relatives of the patients to avoid detection. Quy often did not show up in person but directed his subordinates to deliver the drugs to the customers. Several times, he arranged for buyers to meet at the tennis court or the parking lot behind the hospital's treatment area and then threw the drugs out the window of a patient's room from the second floor.
Police said Quy’s gang operated because of lax management at the hospital and the complicity of many staff members. Some turned a blind eye and even gave Quy the keys to the treatment area, allowing him to come and go freely.
After being caught red-handed by the Hanoi Police Drug Police Department on March 20, Quy and five accomplices were prosecuted and detained to investigate the crimes.Buying, Storing and Organizing Illegal Use of Drugs.
In connection with the case, Nguyen Anh Vu, 35 years old, technician of the Department of Rehabilitation and Traditional Medicine, Central Psychiatric Hospital I, was prosecuted for the crime.Failure to report a crime.At the time of arrest, Vu tested positive for drugs.
