This shocking revelation comes amid an ongoing investigation by local authorities into the treatment of children at the shelter.

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At the investigation agency, Nguyen Thi Ngoc Cam admitted to abusing the children. Photo: provided by the police.

On September 5th, authorities reported initial findings regarding the abuse of children at Hoa Hong Shelter, located on To Ky Street, Trung My Tay Ward, District 12, Ho Chi Minh City.

Following media reports of abuse at the shelter, the Ho Chi Minh City Police Department instructed District 12 Police and the Criminal Investigation Department to urgently investigate and address the situation.

At the time of the inspection, Hoa Hong Shelter was caring for 86 children, exceeding its licensed capacity of 47. The children included 15 infants, 36 toddlers aged 1-2 years, 31 children aged 3-5 years attending Soc Bong Kindergarten, 3 children aged 6-12 years, and 1 child undergoing medical treatment.

The police interviewed the shelter's owner, Giap Thi Song Huong (50, from Bac Giang, residing in Go Vap District), and all staff members, and seized relevant documents and evidence.

Initial investigations revealed that 5 caretakers were involved in child abuse. At the time of the inspection, only two caretakers, Nguyen Thi Ngoc Cam (46, from Dong Nai) and T.M.N. (61, from Ca Mau), were present. The other three, N.T.Q. (41, from Tien Giang), D.T.K.L. (46, from Binh Thanh District), and D.N.T. (47, from Soc Trang), were absent.

Nguyen Thi Ngoc Cam admitted to physically assaulting the children as a means to make them fearful and prevent disruptions.

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The children at Hoa Hong Shelter have been moved to places that ensure proper care. Photo: Ha Nguyen. 

The District 12 Police, in collaboration with the District 12 Prosecutor's Office, conducted a scene investigation and determined that Cam's actions constituted the crime of "Abusing Others," leading to her temporary detention for further investigation.

Authorities are working to locate and bring the remaining three caretakers in for questioning. The investigation into child abuse and other incidents at Hoa Hong Shelter is ongoing.

Most of the children from Hoa Hong Shelter have been transferred to safer facilities. Specifically, 32 children were moved to Tam Binh Child Protection Center, 36 to Thủ Đức Youth Village, 15 to Go Vap Children's Village, 2 were returned to their families, and 1 remains hospitalized.

Also on September 5th, Dang Hoa Nam, Director of the Department of Children (Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs), addressed the press regarding the abuse case at Hoa Hong Shelter in District 12, Ho Chi Minh City.

Nam criticized the failure to detect abuse despite the shelter being licensed and previously inspected. He emphasized the need for a thorough review of inspection processes to identify and rectify any oversight.

The Department of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs has instructed local authorities to implement immediate measures for child care and to rigorously review the licensing and management of child protection facilities.

Nam also pointed out that Hoa Hong Shelter, which was only licensed for 39 children, had more than double that number, leading to unsafe conditions and inadequate care. He suggested that authorities should proactively manage the transfer of children to appropriate facilities.

He noted the absence of surveillance cameras at the shelter, which contributed to the delayed detection of abuse. Nam recommended incorporating camera surveillance requirements in future regulations and enhancing social worker involvement to better prevent and address abuse.

Dam De