Transferring 50 million to bring relatives home: Younger brother is upset, rescue team speaks up

The case of Ms. Nguyen Thi Lien's family (62 years old, residing in Van Xuan commune, Tam Nong district, Phu Tho province) having to transfer 50 million VND to a fisherman to bring her relative back to her hometown to take care of the funeral is attracting special public attention.

Many opinions say that this is an offensive behavior, going against the Vietnamese tradition of mutual love.

Difficult family circumstances

The person brought back was Ms. HTH (45 years old). She was in a particularly difficult situation when her husband passed away in 2021, leaving behind two young daughters. Ms. H. had to shoulder the burden of raising her children alone, life was already difficult. After the incident, Ms. Nguyen Thi Lien - her mother-in-law - moved in to live with her to take care of and raise her two young children.

The search process and the disputed amount

According to the family, on August 13, Ms. H. left home and did not return. Relatives split up to search for her and contacted many places for support. By the afternoon of the same day, some fishermen reported that they had found traces and asked the family to rent a boat at an initial cost of about 4 million VND.

However, by early morning on August 14, this group of people offered a higher fee, initially 60 million, then negotiated down to 50 million. Mr. Ha Quang Giang (H.'s younger brother) said that he was the one who transferred this amount. "Only after we agreed, was the process of bringing our relatives back to their hometown carried out," Ms. Lien choked up.

Zero-dollar rescue team speaks out

Mr. Ha Minh Tan – Captain of the Zero-Dong Rescue Team (Phu Tho) – said that at noon on August 13, his team received a request for help from the family. In the afternoon of the same day, someone posted related information on social media, so he informed his family to come down and check.

According to Mr. Tan, at dawn the next morning, Ms. H.'s family reported that the fishing group had requested money for support. Mr. Tan affirmed: "In nearly 10 years of operation, our team has never received or asked the family to pay money. Everything is completely voluntary. If we discover the incident but do not notify the authorities, and then ask for money, that is wrong and inhumane."

Authorities intervene

Speaking to reporters, the leader of Van Xuan Commune People's Committee said that the police are urgently verifying and clarifying the incident. The local government has also visited and sympathized with the family, and provided guidance on completing the procedures so that the two children can enjoy support policies according to regulations, including funeral allowances and benefits for orphans.

The news of the 50 million VND payment has caused public outrage. Many people believe that if the report is true, this is not only an act that goes against humanity but also needs to be considered from a legal perspective.

Legal opinion

Lawyer Nguyen Anh Thom - Head of Nguyen Anh Law Office, Hanoi Bar Association - analyzed: if a family needs to hire someone to help with the search, negotiating the cost is normal and falls within the scope of civil law.

However, if those who discover the incident impose conditions that require payment before handing over the property to the family, it could be an act of extortion. "This is immoral and shows signs of violating the law. If true, it needs to be dealt with strictly as a deterrent," emphasized lawyer Thom.

According to him, this is also a warning bell about taking advantage of difficult circumstances for personal gain. Any act of forcing payment to be provided with information or to receive back property can be handled according to the provisions of criminal law.

Public opinion awaits investigation conclusions

Ms. H.’s family is currently working with Nguyet Duc Commune Police to clarify the incident. The official investigation results have not been announced, but the incident has sparked many indignant opinions in the community.

What makes many people most heartbroken is the situation of the two children, who lost both their parents in just a few short years. The public hopes that in addition to government support, there will be more social organizations and philanthropists joining hands to help the two children have the conditions to study and grow up.

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