A WHITEHEAD Detention Centre inmate responsible for discipline was set upon by a gang of inmates and fatally stabbed, the High Court heard yesterday. Before he died in what was described as a revenge attack, Tran Tien Dung, 36, managed to point out his assailant, the court heard. But the accused, Bui Ngoc Hien, 31, has denied a charge of murder. Bui and two other men, Luc Ngoc Phong, 24, and Tran Van Khoi, 32, have also pleaded not guilty to two joint counts of wounding with intent. Opening the Crown's case to a jury and Deputy Judge Daniell, prosecutor Arthur Luk said Tran Tien Dung was the discipline leader of the Peace and Order Committee in Section 8 of the camp while Nguyen Van Hoa was the secretary and Nguyen Van Vinh a member. One of the duties of the leader was to compile and submit reports to the authorities whenever there were disputes or fights within the section, he said. During the afternoon of April 15 last year, he said, a dispute arose between inmate Do Viet Duc, Tran Van Khoi and his wife. Later, Tran Tien Dung held a meeting which was also attended by Bui and Mr Nguyen Van Hoa, who compiled a report. Bui, however, was not satisfied with part of the report's contents and wanted to change it. The request was refused. He became very angry and before leaving, allegedly said: ''You guys insist on writing 'stab'. I'll stab you later.'' Shortly after midnight, Mr Luk said, a man called Nguyen Van Thu entered Hut 14A and asked Mr Nguyen Van Hoa to step outside. Immediately Mr Nguyen Van Hoa was attacked with homemade weapons by five men and the three defendants. Suffering multiple stab wounds, he rushed back into the hut but was pursued by defendants Luc and Tran Van Khoi. The attack continued until he fell to the floor, Mr Luk said. Tran Tien Dung had been chatting to a friend in Hut 19A and rushed out. When his friend went to check on him, he heard Tran Tien Dung crying out. Mr Luk said the friend found Tran Tien Dung clutching his abdomen and Bui standing about 10 metres behind him. The court heard after he was helped to the hut, he said, ''Oh my God! Hien Coi stabbed me'', and that later in the medical room, he said: ''It's Ah Hien of Hut 17B who stabbed me.'' It is the Crown's case that Hien Coi, meaning small and thin, was the nickname of Bui who lived in Hut 17B and that he was also known by another nickname of ''Hien Rong''. Tran Tien Dung was later taken to the Prince of Wales Hospital where he was certified dead. The hearing continues on Monday.
