VN child protection association pursues elevator sexual assault case
Ex-procuracy official to be investigated for child molestation

A file photo of Nguyen Huu Linh

Head of Ho Chi Minh City People's Procuracy, Duong Ngoc Hai announced on May 22 that they have completed the indictment to prosecute Linh which has been sent to the municipal People's Court.

According to the indictment, Nguyen Huu Linh, who is a member of the Danang Bar Association and former deputy director of Danang City People's Procuracy, came to visit his daughter at the Galaxy 9 Apartment Building in Ho Chi Minh City's District 4. On the evening of April 1, a building's security camera caught Linh hugging and kissing a 7-year-old girl in an elevator.

When being questioned, Linh said he didn't touch the girl sexually, he only hugged her affectionately.

The seven-year-old girl was hugged and kissed in the lift by Linh on April 1

The case has been receiving huge attention from the public as it occurred just a short time after a young woman was sexually assaulted in an elevator in Hanoi by a man who was then fined only VND200,000 (USD8.70).

Members of public and organisations have called on local authorities to strictly punish the offender this time, because he was a lawyer and former procuracy official and did that with a child.

On April 16, the residents at Galaxy Apartment Building where the incident occurred jointly signed a letter to the authorities in HCM City and government with three requests.

First was to quickly prosecute Nguyen Huu Linh. Second, minimise the impacts on the victim during the investigation and prosecution and finally review the laws and impose stricter punishments regarding child sexual abuse.

The HCM City's Association for Protection of Child's Rights and several experts had also called on the government to prosecute Linh.

Once brought to trial, the Danang former official may face sentence from six months to three years in jail. Dtinews