Six Relatives Prosecuted for Public Disorder in False Pregnancy Incident

In Phu Tho Province, northern Vietnam, six relatives have been criminally prosecuted for public disorder after they stormed a hospital, believing their daughter's false pregnancy claims. The six individuals, including the daughter's parents, her husband's parents, and her paternal uncle and aunt, were formally charged with causing public disorder under Article 318 of the Penal Code by the Phu Tho Provincial Police Investigation Agency on September 19, 2024. The incident began when Nguyen Thi Ngoc Anh, 27, lied to her parents about being pregnant. She had been telling her parents she attended regular check-ups. When she did not give birth, her parents questioned her, and she claimed to have been examined at Viet Lap Hospital. However, a subsequent examination at the National Obstetrics Hospital on September 17 revealed she was not pregnant. Despite this, Anh continued to deceive her family. She told her parents that on September 16, a doctor at Viet Lap Hospital diagnosed a fetal abnormality and recommended an abortion. Believing their daughter, her father, Nguyen Khac Hong, 50, along with dozens of relatives, went to Viet Lap Hospital. There, Hong shouted insults and disrupted public order, spreading false information about the hospital. He also livestreamed the entire disturbance on his personal Facebook account. The livestream attracted over 17,000 viewers, with significant interaction, comments, and shares. Police assessed that this act affected the hospital's normal operations and reputation, and disturbed the psychological state of patients and their families. The Director of the Phu Tho Provincial Police described the case as highly unusual in Vietnamese judicial practice, where relatives from both sides of the family, along with an uncle and aunt, face criminal charges stemming from an unverified livestream. He stated that this serves as a valuable lesson on the legal responsibilities in the online space. Authorities are currently reviewing and systematizing electronic evidence collected from approximately 700 accounts that shared and commented on the video. Many of these comments negatively impacted the image and reputation of Viet Lap Hospital. Individuals involved will be summoned for questioning, and their actions, motives, and the extent of their violations will be determined to ensure strict legal processing.