14 year old suffers unthinkable torture

Locals and authorities uncovered a boy who underwent inhumane, horrifying and barbaric torture at the hands of his boss.

Nguyen Hao Anh, 14, who underwent inhumane, horrifying and barbaric torture at the hands of his boss, was uncovered by locals and authorities.

Vo Van Chac, Chief of the Social Order Crime Investigation Team of Dam Doi District Police said, “Initial investigations reveal that Hao Anh stayed with a couple, Huynh Thanh Giang, 30, and Ma Ngoc Thom, 33, for about 20 months. He was severely mistreated in early 2009 and the brutality of the abuse became even more serious recently when they hanged Anh from the ceiling, throwing boiling water and liquid chemicals among other inhumane acts.”

Giang and Thom, living at Phu Hiep Hamlet, Ngoc Chanh Commune, Dam Doi, Ca Mua, were accused of serious child abuse on April 29.

The Compassionate Hearts Fund of Dan Tri/DTiNews donated VND5 million ($263) to Anh on May 3.

Anh was taken by police of Dam Doi District to check his injuries on the same day at Criminal Technique Department of Ca Mau’s provincial police.

According to Captain Nguyen Truong Do, Vice Director of the Criminal Investigation Police Department of Dam Doi District, after being treated in the hospital for several days, Anh’s health is getting better.

“It’s fortunate for him that people and the authorities took action and were able to get him to Dam Doi Hosptial for timely treatment, otherwise we cannot say what would have happened to him,” added Captain Do.

After being informed about Anh’s situation, Pham Thi Thoa, Anh’s mother, living in Cai Nuoc Town, Cai Nuoc District, rushed to see him. Anh met his mother again after nearly one year of separation, they were full of tears.

Anh’s father left him and his mother when she was pregnant with Anh. She brought up Anh and his brother alone. The family was so poor that Anh was forced to go to work when he was just 12 at Giang’s farm. She does not have money to visit Anh regularly so could not know about Anh’s circumstance.

Despite being admitted into Dam Doi Hospital since April 29, Hao Anh felt the happiest of his life because he was taken care of by his grandmother, mother, brother and many other people.

Scars and a lot of injuries cover Anh’s body. He shared with a weak voice, “The first time uncle Giang beat me so strongly that the paddle was broken. He hit my forehead with a bamboo stick. He also used a heated iron on my back. He and his wife used a string to hold my neck very tightly or sometimes they used pliers to break my teeth.”

“I do not know who they were mad at but they heated up an iron bar then put it on my skin to make it burn. It felt so painful. They often hanged me up and tied my legs to let mosquitoes bite me,” said Hao Anh. His grandmother cried a lot when she heard what Anh was telling.

Anh said that he dared not to escape because he was afraid of being arrested by Giang. They threatened Anh that they would hire gangsters to find and kill him if he dared to run away.

Doctor Ninh Van Hoa, Director of Dam Doi Hospital said, “We are trying to cure his injuries. We also continue conducting necessary tests and taking X-ray's to identify all other injuries. We cannot know how long it will take to complete the treatment at this moment.”

Hao Anh’s case was denounced by Mrs. S at Nam Chanh Hamlet, Tan Dan Commune, Dam Doi. She said, “I cannot stand witnessing a 14 year old boy being tortured badly, every day, like this. I reported it to local authorities at Phu Hiep Hamlet.”

Doan Quoc Khoi, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Dam Doi District confirmed, “With my conscience and responsibility, we will take serious actions against this case. Relevant authorities are investigating to protect the rights of children.”

On behalf of Dan Tri/DTiNews, Journalist Phan Huy donated VND 5 million to Hao Anh

Hao Anh’s face turned dark after being tortured

Hao Anh’s mother looks on in concern

Hao Anh’s being admitted into the hospital

Face riddled with injuries