The People’s Court of Hai Phong city on August 28 sentenced Duong Tu Trong, former Deputy Director of the city's Police Department, to one year and three months in prison on charges of abusing his position and powers while on duty.

Trong, 53, was already sentenced to 16 years in prison on May 23 for helping his brother Duong Chi Dung, ex-chairman of the State-owned shipping corporation Vinalines, flee the country.

In total, Trong now has to spend 17 years and three months in jail for his crimes, beginning on February 22, 2013, when he was taken into custody.

The verdict stated that since 2001, Trong had been on good terms with Dong Xuan Phong, a Hai Phong City Customs Department official.

On August 18, 2009, the Ho Chi Minh City police issued an arrest warrant for Phong on charges of smuggling. Phong fled and was put on the national list of wanted criminals.

On April 22, 2011, Hai Phong police circulated a list of wanted criminals, including Phong’s details, and passed it on to Trong in his capacity as Deputy Director of the Police Department, who chose not to take action against Phong.

Furthermore, after discovering that the police was also looking for his brother Dung, Trong contacted Dung guiding him to hide at his girlfriend’s home.

The next day, Trong asked Phong and Vu Tien Son, who at the time was deputy head of the Social Crime Investigation Police Section of the Hai Phong Police Department, to help Dung flee the country.

Trong pleaded guilty in court and said he hoped for forgiveness from the Party and State.-VNA