Man hospitalized after beaten by police officer

By Van Tram, Phuoc Tuan August 9, 2023 | 03:00 am PT

A still of a video footage showing a police officer kicking a man in Binh Phuoc Province, southern Vietnam, on August 9, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Van Tram

The police chief of a commune in southern Binh Phuoc Province beat a man to the point of hospitalization for obstructing police duty.

At around 9 a.m. Wednesday, police of Binh Son Commune received reports that a tricycle in the area might be evidence of a theft, so they came to the scene for an investigation, according to the police of Phu Rieng District.

Dau Ngoc Hoan, 30, claimed that the tricycle was his and did not allow police officers to take it away without proper documentation.

In a video that circulated online, Hoan stayed on the tricycle and refused to get down. Lieutenant colonel Le Huy Cao, head of the Binh Son police, then repeatedly punched and kicked Hoan, causing him to bleed in several areas. Hoan was eventually put in handcuffs.

Hoan's family later requested the police to remove the cuffs, then took him to hospital.

A representative of the Binh Phuoc police said the police forces of Binh Son Commune have had "objectionable behaviors" that upset the people while on duty.

"We are dealing with the case in accordance with proper procedures," they said.

Lam Van Long, deputy director of Binh Phuoc Police, said it has suspended Cao for an investigation.