On February 21, at the headquarters of the Chợ Mới District Police, An Giang province, local authorities held an awards ceremony recognizing outstanding achievements by law enforcement agencies involved in the rapid investigation of a murder and robbery incident. This crime took place on February 18, at Long Kiến commune, Chợ Mới district, An Giang province.
Delegated by the Chairman of An Giang Provincial People’s Committee, Colonel Lâm Phước Nguyên, Director of An Giang Provincial Police, awarded cash prizes of 5 million VND each to four teams: the Murder Investigation Department of the General Department of Criminal Investigation (Ministry of Public Security), the provincial Criminal Police, the Chợ Mới District Police, and the Long Kiến Commune Police. These teams were recognized for their exceptional contributions to the successful investigation.
Alongside monetary rewards, the Chợ Mới District's People's Committee also presented merit certificates to the Criminal Investigation Department, the provincial Serious Crime Investigation Police, the provincial Drug Crime Investigation Police, and the Chợ Mới District Police. On this occasion, the provincial police chief also awarded a certificate of merit to one citizen for their outstanding contributions to protecting national security.
According to local reports, around 8:00 AM on February 18, residents discovered the body of Bùi Văn Thuận, a 72-year-old male, submerged beneath hyacinths near Ông Chưởng riverbank (Long Hòa 1 hamlet, Long Kiến commune). Initial investigations revealed multiple wounds to his head and neck, along with missing valuables.
Due to the serious nature of the crime, Colonel Nguyên and Colonel Bùi Tấn Ân, Deputy Director of the Agency for Investigation of An Giang Provincial Police, visited the scene to direct the investigation. They ordered the Serious Crime Investigation Police to collaborate with various agencies, including the Ministry of Public Security, to gather forces and resources urgently to identify and apprehend the perpetrator.
Remarkably, within just 48 hours, police identified and arrested the suspect, Nguyễn Thị Kiều Phương, aged 42, who resided locally. During the investigation, she confessed to the crime, explaining her motive. Overwhelmed by high-interest debts from unknown lenders, she learned of Thuận’s daily routine and his wealth of jewelry, which led her to plan the crime to pay off her debts.
According to Phương’s account, she approached Thuận on her scooter armed with a meat cleaver and hammer. When they stopped to converse, she seized the opportunity to strike multiple blows to his head with the hammer and then slashed his neck with the cleaver. After confirming Thuận was dead, she stole three rings from him, which she later sold for over 33 million VND.
Phương returned home to clean herself and dispose of the evidence before being apprehended by police on the evening of February 19. A subsequent search of her residence uncovered the murder weapon and other stolen items related to the crime.
At the ceremony, Colonel Nguyên praised the exemplary work of those involved in the investigation. He emphasized their quick actions reassured the public and played a significant role in maintaining public order and safety. He encouraged local police forces to continue their efforts to combat crime and strengthen community participation in safeguarding security.
This case has highlighted the importance of rapid police response and community cooperation. While the tragic circumstances surrounding Thuận’s death will leave lasting impacts on his community, the effectiveness of the investigation has at least provided some sense of justice and closure to the incident.
Moving forward, law enforcement will continue to focus on proactive measures to prevent crime and promote safety within the community, assuring residents they are working tirelessly to uphold public trust and security.