said Vietnam’s deputy foreign minister Bui Thanh Son on Monday.

The scene of the incident in which 39 Vietnamese citizens were found dead in the back of a lorry. — Xinhua/VNA Photo

Along with technical procedures, the return of the bodies required approval by the UK’s judges, Son said on the sidelines of the ongoing National Assembly meeting in Hanoi.
“Regarding legal procedures, the return of the bodies requires approval from the court in England,” Son said.

“The two sides are working hard to bring back the victims’ remains as soon as possible,” said the deputy minister.

According to the deputy minister, most of the victims’ families wanted to receive the bodies and few agreed to receive cremated remains.

Last week, Son said that the Vietnamese Government would pay in advance for the return of the bodies and cremains. The victims’ families would then refund the Government.

The diplomat also said that if any charity, businesses or benefactors wish to provide support for the victims' families, they could work directly with the families and local governments.

In a relate move, British police have charged a 23-year-old man from Northern Ireland with human trafficking as part of their inquiry into the deaths of 39 people found in the back of a container truck near London last month, reported the Vietnam News Agency.

Police said in a statement that Christopher Kennedy was arrested on November 22 and is due to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court in England on Monday.

The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised charges of conspiracy to arrange or facilitate the travel of people with a view to exploitation, and conspiracy to facilitate the commission of a breach of UK immigration law, it said.

Maurice Robinson, the 25-year-old driver of the lorry, has been charged with 39 counts of manslaughter, conspiracy to traffic people, conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration, and money laundering.

He was expected to appear in court on Monday.

A second man, Eamonn Harrison, 23, from Northern Ireland, who was charged with the same offences, was brought to a court in Dublin on November 21.

VN Gov’t to provide advance for repatriation of UK lorry victims

The Government will provide an advance to pay for the repatriation ofthe bodies of victims found dead last month in a containerlorry in Essex, the UK, according to Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son.

Vietnamese families of UK lorry victims have to cover repatriation costs

The families of 39 Vietnamese people found dead in a lorry in England last month will have to cover the costs to repatriate their relatives’ remains, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in an official document.

VNS