Nguyen Van Chuong: A Wrongful Conviction in Vietnam's Criminal Justice System

Quynh-Vi Tran -

Nguyen Van Chuong’s criminal case is another heart-wrenching story that shakes the foundations of Vietnam's criminal justice system. Chuong was arrested and imprisoned in 2007, and his case symbolized the grave consequences of police brutality and miscarriages of justice. Accused of a heinous crime and sentenced to death, his official case file reveals a tragic story of a man wrongfully convicted.

And now, the authorities intend to carry out Chuong's execution soon. In the face of his impending execution, the plight of Nguyen Van Chuong demands urgent attention and calls for his exoneration. Our mission is to unveil the haunting intricacies of his case, underscoring the profound toll that a flawed investigation process has taken on witnesses, suspects, and even family members. As we witness this tragedy, let us advocate for justice, compassion, and a fair reevaluation of Nguyen Van Chuong's innocence.

The Arrest and Allegations of Police Brutality

In August 2007, the Hai Phong City Police Department arrested Nguyen Van Chuong, along with Do Van Hoang and Vu Toan Trung, in connection with the murder of a high-ranking police officer. Officer Nguyen Van Sinh was beaten and murdered in the port city of Hai Phong on July 14, 2007. The only evidence used to convict them was their alleged confessions, obtained under extreme duress, as all three defendants later claimed. Reports from Chuong's parents and witnesses painted a horrifying picture of police brutality, detailing how the suspects were handcuffed, beaten, and threatened until they confessed to the crime.

Supporting Alibi Witnesses Ignored

Crucially, Nguyen Van Chuong had strong alibi witnesses who swore under oath that they were with him in his hometown, Hai Duong, some 40 km away, at the time of the attack on Officer Sinh. Instead of investigating the validity of this alibi, the police shockingly arrested Chuong's younger brother, Nguyen Trong Doan, on allegations of manipulating evidence and witnesses. Even more distressing was the revelation that some of Chuong's alibi witnesses were coerced into changing their testimonies by the authorities.

The Faulty Investigation and Trial

The investigation conducted by the police was marred with inconsistencies, disregarding crucial evidence in favor of a forced confession narrative. The authorities concluded that Chuong, Trung, and Hoang had robbed and murdered Officer Sinh for money to buy heroin without thoroughly examining other leads or potential suspects. During the trial, Chuong's co-defendants received varying sentences, with one benefiting from familial connections that allowed him a lighter punishment. Despite the existence of an alibi and serious doubts about the police's handling of the case, Nguyen Van Chuong was sentenced to death.

Chuong and His Family’s Fight for Justice

Like other wrongful conviction cases in Vietnam, Nguyen Van Chuong's parents became his unwavering advocates on social media, tirelessly fighting for their son's innocence. They shared the heartbreaking story of selling their valuables and struggling to make ends meet to fund Chuong's legal defense and appeals. His father, Nguyen Truong Chinh, even joined a community of land-grab victims and worked as a motorbiker to earn a meager salary, desperate to secure justice for his son.

The tragedy of Nguyen Van Chuong serves as a poignant reminder of Vietnam's pressing need for criminal justice reforms. It highlights the perils of relying on dubious confessions and the urgent requirement for thorough, unbiased investigations. Chuong's case underscores the dire consequences of police brutality on suspects, witnesses, and family members caught in the crossfire. As the fight for justice continues, we must hope that the plight of Nguyen Van Chuong and others like him will spark systemic changes to prevent future miscarriages of justice in Vietnam's legal system.

Bullet points of Nguyen Van Chuong's case:

  • The police reported that a high-ranking officer, Nguyen Van Sinh, was attacked and killed on July 14, 2007.
  • Chuong was arrested on August 3, 2007, along with two others, Do Van Hoang and Vu Toan Trung.
  • Chuong and his co-defendants' convictions were based solely on their alleged confessions, reportedly obtained through torture by the police, without any other evidence.
  • Chuong's parents recounted how he was handcuffed, beaten, and forced to confess while hanging by his toes.
  • Chuong and his co-defendants appealed their convictions, and Chuong sent his mother a plea of innocence sewn onto a t-shirt from prison.
  • Chuong's alibi witnesses also claimed they were physically abused by the authorities.
  • Witnesses provided written declarations supporting Chuong's alibi, but instead of investigating, the police arrested Chuong's brother, Doan, who was also one of the alibi witnesses.
  • Some alibi witnesses later claimed they were coerced by the police into changing their testimonies.
  • The police concluded that Chuong and his co-defendants had confessed to robbing and killing Officer Sinh.
  • Chuong was sentenced to death, while the other defendants received different sentences, one of whom benefited from his family background.
  • Chuong's younger brother, Doan, was also sentenced for "concealing criminals" because he was trying to bring forward alibi witnesses who saw Chuong in Hai Duong (a city 40 km away from the crime scene) at the time of Officer Sinh’s murder.
  • Chuong's family has advocated for his innocence on social media and through petitions.
  • Chuong's father had to sell valuables and work as a motorbiker to fund his son’s legal case and appeals.
  • Like other wrongful death penalty inmates, Ho Duy Hai and Le Van Manh, Chuong has been incarcerated since his arrest in 2017, with the possibility of execution at any time.
  • On August 4, 2023, the People’s Court of Hai Phong notified Chuong’s parents in writing that Chuong would be executed and the family should petition to receive his body thereafter.