A correctional officer in the southern Vietnamese province of Dong Nai had had his villa built by no one other than inmates at the prison he works for, before being faced with protests from his neighbors.
Colonel Ho Phi Thang has had to stop using some 20 inmates of the Z30A prison for the construction of his villa in Xuan Hoa Ward, Long Khanh Town when the nearby residents reported the case to the media.
The prisoners had been asked to help real builders with such tasks bricklaying and building subunits for the property, as observed by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters at the site on Thursday.
The detainees would be transported back to their cells at the end of the ‘working day’ by a specialized vehicle that had been parked near the area.
According to local residents, the incident has happened for about ten days.
During an interview with Tuoi Tre, a representative from the People’s Committee in Xuan Hoa Ward stated the construction had been granted with legitimate permit.
Local authorities cannot interfere whom the house owner would choose as builders, the official said.
He however admitted that it was an “obscene manner” to assign the prisoners to such a job.
Col. Thang, owner of the villa, admitted that the incident is unacceptable, stating that his colleagues had decided to dispatch the inmates to his house as a “token of appreciation.”
According to the officer, he has worked at the jail for nearly 40 years and is expected to retire in October.
“My co-workers wanted to send the inmates to help with the construction to express their gratitude for my dedication over the past decades,” Thang continued.
Against regulations
Speaking with Tuoi Tre, an official from the General Department of Criminal Enforcement and Judicial Assistance under the Ministry of Public Security affirmed that correctional programs at Vietnamese prisons include vocational training.
Inmates can be sent to certain construction sites to practice and sharpen their skills, the official added.
“However, specific plans and reports must be submitted to higher agencies for approval before such field training can take place. Security must also be ensured at the chosen area,” he continued.
Regarding the case of Col. Thang, the inmates were dispatched without any consent from authorities, which is against regulations, the official said, asserting that the officer could face heavy responsibility if the prisoners escape or have an accident during their operations.
The General Department of Criminal Enforcement and Judicial Assistance on Friday ordered a report of the case from leaders of the Z30A camp and Col. Thang, demanding that they stop sending prisoners to the construction site.
