Four charged after man allegedly handcuffed and forced to write debt papers

Police in Vinh Long have charged four men after a borrower was allegedly handcuffed, taken away and forced to write debt papers. The suspects face investigation for unlawful detention, while police continue building a case involving alleged property extortion.

The suspects are Võ Tuấn Thành, 35, Lê Quốc Trung, 37, Nguyễn Đức Anh, 22, and Bùi Duy Tân, 22. All live in Cái Vồn Ward, Vĩnh Long Province. Police issued decisions to prosecute and temporarily detain them.

The initial investigation began after N.T.B.L., 35, reported at about 5 p.m. on Aug. 20 that her husband, L.M.T., 39, had been restrained and taken away by a group of four people. Police from Cái Vồn Ward and the provincial criminal police searched for those involved and arrested the four men about an hour later, seizing related evidence.

Investigators said Thành and Trung had lent L.M.T. a combined 270 million dong. Thành allegedly lent 150 million dong and Trung 120 million dong. The borrower had promised to repay the money after selling land, but more than three months passed without repayment despite repeated promises.

At about 3:45 p.m. that day, Trung allegedly saw the couple taking someone to view land in Mỹ Thới Hamlet. He called Thành and asked Đức Anh and Tân to help. Thành and Trung then allegedly attacked L.M.T. in front of his wife and a prospective land viewer, restrained him and took him away on a motorbike. The men used handcuffs bought through social media to lock his hands. After traveling about 500 meters, Đức Anh and Tân joined them. The group allegedly took L.M.T. to Thành's home, where they threatened him and forced him to write two debt papers totaling 520 million dong. Police have also searched the suspects' homes as the investigation continues.