Rights group: Vietnam must probe police brutality

A human rights group says police brutality has led to a spate of deaths in Vietnam - including a high-profile case involving a man who died after being arrested for not wearing a motorbike helmet - and investigations and punishments have been inadequate.

U.S.-based Human Rights Watch says it has documented 19 incidents of police brutality, resulting in 15 deaths, all reported in Vietnamese state-controlled media in the past year. However, there were no reports that any police officers were convicted for their actions.

"Police brutality is being reported at an alarming rate in every region of Vietnam, raising serious concerns that these abuses are both systemic and widespread," Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch said in a statement released late Wednesday.

The group alleged that in some cases detainees died after being beaten while in custody. In other instances, it said victims were killed outside of custody when police used excessive force.

In July, a 21-year-old man from northern Bac Giang province died hours after being detained for failing to wear a helmet.

Unhappy with the failure by police to explain his death, the family and hundreds of villagers placed his coffin in front of the provincial government building, blocking traffic for hours, state media have reported. The protesters then grew angry, bringing down the gate and parts of an iron fence surrounding the government compound, while pelting police with rocks.

A police officer involved in the case has been arrested and is being investigated.

"Until police get the message from all levels of government that they will be punished, there is little to stop them from this abusive behavior, including beating people to death," Robertson said.