Information about death of suspect Nguyen Huu Tan released hinh anh 1Nguyen Huu Tan, a suspect of an anti-state propaganda case (Photo: Vinh Long Newspaper)

Vinh Long (VNA) – Authorities of the Mekong Delta province of Vinh Long on May 5 provided official information about the suicide of Nguyen Huu Tan, a suspect of an anti-state propaganda case, at the provincial Public Security Department’s detention centre.

At a meeting with the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Vinh Long and local religious organisations, Colonel Pham Van Ngan, Vice Director of the Vinh Long Public Security Department screened a video clip captured by security cameras at the jail showing that Tan killed himself by using a paper-knife to cut blood vessels on two sides of his neck. The video clip also showed that Tan was neither beaten nor tortured.

The police also invited family members of Tan to directly watch the video clip and witnessed the autopsy on his body, which affirmed that apart from cuts caused by Tan himself, there was no sign of external forces on his body.

After watching the video clip, Nguyen Van Nhanh, deputy head of the Vinh Long Hoa Hao Buddhist Representative Board, said that he will request followers to abide by the Party and State’s policies and guidelines and avoid distorted information and allegations of hostile forces that aim to harm the country.

Venerable Thich Thien Tam, Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Vinh Long, also affirmed that he will report the nature of the case to local people and Buddhist followers.

Le Quang Dao, President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Vinh Long, said some websites have posted wrongful information about the case. He asked religious organisations to disseminate the true information about the case to followers and locals, and urge them not to follow distorted allegations, avoiding being exploited by hostile forces.

On May 2, the Investigation Security Agency under the Vinh Long Public Security Department arrested Nguyen Huu Tan, born in 1979, to investigate his alleged acts to disseminate anti-State documents under Article 88 of the Penal Code.

At about 10:55 on May 3, while working with the police, Tan asked for a cigarette and water. Taking advantage of the investigator’s absence, Tan scoured a bag of the officer and found a paper-knife, which is often used to sealed evidence bag. He used the paper-knife to kill himself by cutting blood vessels on two sides of his neck.-VNA
VNA