Nguyen Khac Thuy, 78, who was former director of the State Bank of Vietnam’s branch in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province was charged with molesting a six-year-old child on the playground of the apartment buildings in 2012. After the child told her grandmother, the mother verbally confronted Thuy but didn't do anything else since she didn't want her granddaughter to be further affected by the incident. He was also accused of molesting three other girls in 2014.
Nguyen Khac Thuy at the court
At the first trial conducted by the People’s Court of Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province last year, Thuy was sentenced to three years in prison. However, the People’s Court of Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province reduced Thuy’s sentence to just 18 months probation, citing information such as the man was a party member, old, had many illnesses and was known for his work as head of the State Bank of Vietnam's branch in the province.
However, the probation verdict was met by public anger across the country, saying that it was not harsh enough given what he had done to the children and their family.
Following the public opposition, HCM City’s Supreme Court decided to uphold the initial three-year sentence in prison for him.