There have been other cases where the police have abused their power, victimising Vietnamese in California recently, Mr Hung said on October 27.

He said he was shocked while watching a video clip of San Jose police’s violence against student Ho Phuong. The image showed the young man crying for help while being brutally beaten. The public in both Vietnam and the US, particularly the Vietnamese-American community, is furious, Mr Hung emphasised.

He expressed his hope that the San Jose authorities would promptly conduct an investigation and hand out appropriate punishment in accordance with the law.

Earlier on October 24, the San Jose Mercury News online launched a video clip provided by Ho Phuong’s lawyer, which showed the student being beaten with a nightstick, even though was in handcuffs.

Ho Phuong is a Vietnamese student studying mathematics at San Jose University.

The Vietnamese Consulate General in California met with Phuong’s lawyer to learn more about the case and sent diplomatic notes to the US Department of State’s representative office in California and the San Jose Police Bureau, demanding that relevant US agencies conclude their investigation speedily to ensure the perpetrators are brought to trial.

The Consulate General representative visited Ho Phuong and informed him of legal benefits that protect Vietnamese citizens abroad.

The Vietnamese Consulate General is asking to hold working sessions with the San Jose police chief via diplomatic channels. 

“We will do everything in our capacity, in line with the international and US laws as well as international practices to fulfil our duty to protect our citizens abroad,” Mr Hung noted.