HCMC cops face prosecution for taking money to release suspects

City police said Wednesday said they have completed investigating the case and passed relevant documents to prosecutors, recommending that charges of "abuse of power or position in performance of official duties" are levied against 13 police officers of Phu Tho Hoa Ward.

From 2018 until April 2020, 10 police officers were tasked with patrolling the streets to detain suspects who store, sell use and transport drugs, the Lao Dong newspaper reported.

Instead of detaining and investigating the suspects, the latter were asked to contact family members and bring money to the station for their release. The money collected was shared by the police officers.

The bribes were received under shifts headed by one chief police officer of the ward and two deputy chief officers.

Investigations revealed that 51 suspects were detained and escorted to the police station, but released afterwards.

Investigators managed to track down 30 of the suspects and 29 admitted to having been detained by Phu Tho Hoa Ward police on drug-related suspicions, but released after giving them money, the Tuoi Tre newspaper reported.