Torturer of karaoke bar attendants arrested while hiding in HCMC

Police of the central Quang Ngai Province on Thursday extradited Pham Ngoc Tien, 30, to his hometown in Quang Ngai to serve the investigation.

Tien was arrested earlier that day when hiding in a workshop in HCMC's outlying district of Hoc Mon.

Though he had already been convicted of "intentionally inflicting injury," he was fleeing additional charges of "attempted murder" and "humiliating others."

He had armed himself with many knives and swords and was ready to resist the authorities, a police officer said.

Three years ago, following a tip from the locals, police raided the Hoang Gia karaoke bar in Tu Nghia District of Quang Ngai where they discovered eight female staff aged 15-20 being held captive with numerous injuries all over their bodies.

Tien, the bar owner, and Pham Cong Dat, the manager, were arrested.

According to an investigation, Tien and Dat suspected a female attendant and customer of having sexual relations in another karaoke bar, so they used rocks and wooden sticks to beat her.

Tien forced her to strip naked and stand in a puddle of water with a metal frame placed in it.

The two men then used an electric shock device connected to a car battery to electrocute the victim in front of other female staff. As a result, the girl sustained injuries to 11% of her body.

Forensics concluded that a voltage of 42 volts could be dangerous to humans. Tien and Dat had used voltages ranging from 92 volts to 206 volts.

Police said Tien also assaulted other attendants with his hands, feet, and wooden sticks.

Some victims reported having previously worked for Tien at another karaoke bar in Binh Duong Province that borders HCMC. There, they were tortured by him, and one who made a failed bid to escape had her fingers chopped off.

Therefore, the young women were all terrified and felt compelled to follow Tien to Quang Ngai to continue working as attendants. Moreover, Tien loaned them money at high interest rates to control them.

Bruises on the body of a female attendant working at the karaoke bar owned by Pham Ngoc Tien in Quang Ngai. Photo by police.

In September 2021, the Tu Nghia District People's Court held a first trial, sentencing Tien to two years in prison and Dat to three years for the crime of "intentionally inflicting injury."

For the crime of "humiliating others," the trial panel suspended the case because a victim withdrew her complaint and requested a criminal liability exemption for Tien.

The Quang Ngai Provincial People's Procuracy later identified many errors in the first trial judgment and appealed the entire verdict for reinvestigation. Prosecutors said Tien must also be charged for "attempted murder."

In August 2022, while on bail for "severe illness," Tien escaped from the province and police issued a special arrest warrant for him.