Woman accused of abusing girl who works to pay off grandma's debts

Le Thi Kieu, 43, was detained by police of Tran Van Thoi District on Sunday to be investigated for abuse.

Authorities accused Kieu of using rods and other tools to beat the girl multiple times when she did not do what Kieu asked of her. A local woman saw how the girl was beaten repeatedly, and so reported the matter to the police.

Kieu confessed to the police that she beat the girl. A video that circulated on social media also showed the girl crying and retelling how she was abused several times by Kieu.

It was reported that from May 2022, the girl was being made to carry out housework every day, on top of her full-time job at a local seafood company in Song Doc Town, in order to pay off her grandmother's debts of VND40 million (US$1,662).