18 months in prison for commune official who sexually abused children
(Baonghean.vn) -The People's Court of Yen Thanh District sentenced a former commune official who sexually abused a child to 18 months in prison. There were two appeals: the defendant asked for a lighter sentence, while the victim asked for a heavier sentence. However, the appeal court of Nghe An Province still upheld the first instance verdict.
On July 18, the People's Court of Nghe An province held an appeal hearing and upheld the 18-month prison sentence for Thai Van Ba (53 years old), former Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Quang Thanh commune (Yen Thanh district) for having sexual intercourse with a child.
According to the indictment of the first instance court, on the afternoon of July 15, 2011, M (15 years old, a classmate of Thai Van Ba's daughter) went to Ba's daughter's house to play. When he learned that M's mother was working and not coming home, Ba asked, "Aren't you afraid of being home alone?" That night, Ba went to M's house and committed a depraved act.
In September 2011, M had symptoms of pain in her private area. Her uncle took her to the hospital and discovered that she had a gynecological disease. The uncle inquired and learned of the incident, and immediately, together with her sister's family, filed a complaint with the police.
On November 20, 2011, Mr. Ba went to the commune and district police to confess his actions.
In April 2012, the Yen Thanh District People's Court tried and sentenced Thai Van Ba to 18 months in prison for having sex with a child. However, M's family filed an appeal, requesting that the charge be changed from having sex with a child to child rape, increasing the defendant's sentence.
The jury found that there was no basis to change the crime of sexual intercourse to rape. The People's Court of Nghe An province upheld the first instance sentence: 18 months in prison for Thai Van Ba.
Ha Linh
