4 flight attendants who brought banned substances back to Vietnam officially received bitter results: Freed but not free from crime

The information that the Ho Chi Minh City Police Department's Investigation Agency released 4 flight attendants of Vietnam Airlines is of particular interest to the public. Many people fear that the litigant's declaration that the goods are banned will create a bad precedent.

According to Mr. Vu Phi Long - former deputy chief of criminal court of the People's Court of Ho Chi Minh City, when determining signs of crime, the investigating agency issued a decision to prosecute a criminal case.

The prosecution of a criminal case is an independent procedural stage, initiating investigative activities. During the investigation period, if it is suspected that a person is capable of committing a crime, the procedural agency may temporarily hold him for up to 9 days for investigation.

And within a certain time limit (for particularly serious crimes, the maximum investigation period is 20 months - PV), if the accused cannot be identified, the investigating agency will issue a decision to temporarily suspend the investigation. check.

Mr. Long highly appreciated the fact that the investigating agency applied the principle of presumption of innocence when releasing 4 flight attendants, on the grounds that they did not know clearly that the number of goods transported from France to Vietnam contained illegal substances. banned, so there is not enough basis for criminal prosecution and handling.

However, Mr. Long said that the investigation agency had prosecuted a criminal case of "illegal transportation of banned substances" for investigation and at present, the authorities have not proven that these 4 flight attendants committed violations. sin. This does not confirm that these people are not guilty, and of course they are still investigated.

During the investigation process, if the investigating agency proves that the crime is committed, these people can still be prosecuted as usual.

So does the fact that the flight attendants declare their bags for them or do not know that the goods contain banned substances, so they are not prosecuted, create a bad precedent? Mr. Long said that it is not necessary to say that they do not know, the prosecution will believe and they will have a lot of technical and professional measures to confirm that the person is still aware that it is a banned substance.

According to lawyer Vu Quang Duc (Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association), in criminal matters, the authorities think that there is not enough basis to prosecute because there are no signs that these 4 litigants know it is a banned substance, but only accept transportation. deliver goods for a remuneration.

In principle, the burden of proving the crime rests with the investigating agency. Therefore, when the investigating agency did not have enough grounds to believe that these 4 flight attendants knew it was a banned substance but still received it, it was not enough to prosecute the accused.

However, administratively, these 4 flight attendants violated because according to the regulations of the flight crew, flight attendants are only allowed to bring personal belongings and items, but not to help others, not to mention at the airport. This also helps to receive remuneration.

Currently, the investigative agency has just prosecuted the case of illegal transportation of banned substances but has not yet prosecuted the accused, so we have to wait for the official conclusion of the investigation agency.

The Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam said that although the release of the competent force did not have enough grounds for criminal prosecution, the four flight attendants were still handled according to Circular 46/2013 of the Ministry of Transport on labor discipline. Special actions for airline employees.

A representative of Vietnam Airlines (VNA) said that in VNA anyone who violates regulations and rules must be dealt with.

Specifically, talking to VietNamNet, Mr. Dinh Viet Thang, Director of the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam, said that the suspension of 4 VNA flight attendants was in accordance with the circular of the Ministry of Transport on specific labor discipline.

The direction of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam is to be "resolute, persistent, regular and without a restricted area" in the fight against smuggling, commercial fraud and counterfeit goods by air.

As for the 4 flight attendants, although the release of the functional forces does not have enough grounds to handle criminally, however, these flight attendants will still be handled according to Circular 46/2013 of the Ministry of Transport on labor discipline. Special actions for airline employees.

Specifically, Article 6 of Circular 46/2013 stipulates: Do not use the position of aviation staff in any enterprise operating in the field of civil aviation for the act of taking advantage of the position. working to smuggle, illegally transport people, property and goods.

Earlier, on the afternoon of March 22, Lieutenant General To An Xo, a spokesman for the Ministry of Public Works, said that the Ho Chi Minh City Police Investigation Agency issued a decision to release four Vietnam Airlines flight attendants.

Currently, the Investigation Police Agency of the Ho Chi Minh City Police Department has prosecuted the case of "illegal transportation of banned substances" to investigate and clarify the nature of the case, and strictly handle the relevant subjects according to regulations.

Revealin.g the real reason to release 4 flight attendants transporting banned substances: Experts get involved Nắng08:02:15 23/03/2023On the afternoon of March 22, the Ministry of Public Security said that the Ho Chi Minh City Police Department of Investigation had made a decision to release four flight attendants of Vietnam Airlines. According to the authorities, these flight attendants did not know that 327...