The victim’s father appeared on VTV’s Aug. 17 evening newscast, saying that he accepted the investigation’s findings and calling on the public to “close” the case. Nguyễn Sỹ Cương did not appear at any point in the broadcast.
The Latest: Việt Nam Television confirmed that Nguyễn Sỹ Cương, former deputy chair of the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs Committee during its 14th term, was driving the car involved in a May 30, 2025, crash on Nguyễn Huy Tự Street in Hanoi.
- The crash killed 18-year-old Đỗ Ngọc Phương Thùy.
According to VTV, authorities examined and investigated the case and issued a final decision exempting him from criminal liability.
- However, the report also noted that:
“Recently, however, some terrorist organizations and anti-state actors have exploited this case to incite and encourage people online, affecting security and public order.
From Investigators: Senior Col. Nguyễn Đức Long, deputy director of the Hà Nội police, told VTV that “Nguyễn Sỹ Cương violated regulations governing participation in road traffic under Clause 1, Article 260 of the Penal Code.”
- However, Long stated that Cương “truthfully admitted all of his actions and actively worked to remedy the consequences.”
According to Long, the victim’s family acknowledged these efforts. He said:
“The victim’s family acknowledged his efforts and submitted a request that he be exempted from criminal liability […] The family also asked the authorities to conclude the case soon so they could stabilize their lives.”
Investigators further found that Cương had no alcohol in his system and held a valid driver’s license. Long said:
“Based on the documents and evidence collected and an objective and comprehensive assessment […] Nguyễn Sỹ Cương met the conditions for exemption from criminal liability.”
A Ministry of Public Security representative echoed this sentiment, adding that the crash had been “handled by the responsible agencies in accordance with proper procedures and the law” and that the victim’s family accepted the outcome.
From the Family: Đỗ Việt Hùng, the father of Đỗ Ngọc Phương Thùy, fully accepted the conclusion.
- “I completely agree with the investigating agency’s findings,” Hùng said. “We have no complaints, doubts, or questions about how the agency handled our family’s case.”
- Noting that his family has gradually recovered over the past year, he added, “We hope everything will close soon so our family can return to a very normal life, like other families.”
Hùng called on social media users to “close the case” and remain clear-headed.
- “We should understand how the law works,” Hùng said. “More importantly, as citizens of Việt Nam, we should know how to love and be patriotic to our country and avoid being drawn into the schemes of reactionary actors.”
From VTV: VTV addressed the ongoing debate and claims circulating on social media, stating that “hostile and reactionary forces have exploited this case and other administrative and criminal violations to repeatedly publish false information intended to cause public confusion.”
Maj. Gen. Nguyễn Quốc Toản, spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Security, told VTV that “hostile and reactionary forces and other malicious actors — particularly the Việt Tân terrorist organization — have dangerously exploited these incidents to incite unrest.”
- “They have deliberately connected the separate cases mentioned above with other incidents to influence and draw in young people, pupils, and university students, causing disorder and insecurity,” Toản emphasized.
VTV concluded by stating that although the victim’s family had made no request for public intervention, “millions of posts offering analysis, commentary, and incitement in a negative direction appeared across multiple social media platforms.”
The Background: State media last reported on the case on May 31, 2025, one day after the crash. The recent VTV broadcast aired after weeks of public pressure, particularly from young people on Threads.
- Notably, VTV did not address allegations that Nguyễn Sỹ Cương attempted to leave the crash scene or failed to assist the critically injured victim.
- Hà Nội police also did not explain why the resolution of the case was not publicly disclosed for more than a year.
Why It Matters: Article 29 of the Penal Code establishes two categories of exemption from criminal liability:
- Mandatory Exemptions
- Discretionary Exemptions (granted by authorities)
When a victim or the victim’s representative submits a request for exemption from criminal liability, the case falls under the discretionary “may be exempted” category in Clause 3 of Article 29.
Thành Phương wrote this news article in Vietnamese and published it in Luật Khoa Magazine on August 17, 2026. The Vietnamese Magazine translated it into English.
