Three women kept confined, chained by own brother

Following reports from locals, authorities in Bao Loc City on Thursday found the women inside the facility belonging to Nguyen Hai Ha, 65. While two were chained to windows, the third was found cowering in a corner.

Ha said the three women were his half-sisters from Dong Nai Province whom he was taking care of for the last two years.

Dinh Cong Huyen, deputy head of the Bao Loc Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, said the women speak normally and answer questions correctly, and show no signs of abnormality.

“They were diagnosed with schizophrenia, but since they are in control of their behavior, their caretaker has to let them live like normal people.”

Authorities said the place where they were kept is not hygienic and could worsen their condition.

They proposed sending the women to a shelter or another relative, but Ha refused.

Ha assured them he would no longer chain or confine them any longer. The Bao Loc City People’s Court is going to review the case to decide on who would get the custody for the three sisters.