Two women sentenced to 15 years in prison for selling children to China

As reported by Nghe An Newspaper, between December 21 and 29, 2017, Ky Son District Police received 3 complaints from 3 victims reporting that they were lured and tricked into being sold to China by Ven Thi Mao (born in 1989, residing in Bao Nam Commune, Ky Son District) and Cut Thi Thong (born in 1989, residing in Na Luong 1 Village, Huu Kiem Commune, Ky Son District).

According to the complaint of three victims Cut Thi C. (born 2001), Cut Thi S. (born 2000) and Luong Thi H. (born 1999), all residing in Ky Son district: from 2014 - 2015, the above subjects tricked and sold 3 girls to China for men to buy as wives, for prices ranging from 95 - 100 million VND.

Defendants Ven Thi Mao and Cut Thi Thong at the first instance trial. Photo: K.An

Through verification and investigation of the case, during the time of being deceived and sold, all 3 victims were under 16 years old. Therefore, Ky Son District Police initiated a case and prosecuted Thong and Mao.

Mao confessed that after being persuaded by Thong, he personally went to find people, tricked S. and C., and then handed them over to Thong to get 6 million VND as payment.

Thong was the leader of the child trafficking ring and after selling the three children S, C and H, he divided the money among Mao and some others, and paid the parents of the three victims. Thong illegally profited 16 million VND.

At the trial, the two defendants Thong and Mao confessed honestly, expressed remorse, and asked for a lighter sentence. The victims' families asked for a lighter sentence for the two defendants.

At the end of the trial, the first instance panel sentenced Thong to 10 years in prison for child trafficking and Mao to 5 years in prison for child trafficking. The court exempted Mao and Thong from additional punishment because both defendants were in difficult circumstances, but ordered the confiscation of 22 million VND of illegal profits from Thong and Mao.