HCM CIty's police is investigating a case in which four teenagers were abused at a local flower shop where they worked.
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| Burnt fingertips of Tran Van Nam |
District 7 police detained Ho Dinh Chau, a 42 year old man from Thua Thien Hue Province, after receiving reports that Chau has been abusing four teenage workers.
After cursory check by the police on January 17, authorities removed a 14 year-old and three 15 year-old children, from the apartment where they lived with Chau and his wife.
Chau and his wife, Tran Thi Hong, claimed that the children's families sent them to work with them in 2010 because they were unable to support them financially. The job of the children was to cut flowers and sell them at local cafes and restaurants, often working as late as 3am.
The children claimed that if they didn't make their VND500,000 (USD24) quota the wife would burn their fingers with cigarettes or make them kneel on durian shells until they bled.
The HCM City police detected burns on two of the children's fingertips, which they will use for evidence in a case that is under continued investigation.
