The Price of Arrogance

(Baonghean) - Born in 1986 but once a "big brother" who made waves at Lam Hong bus station, Nguyen Phuc Luyen (residing in My Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district) returned to his hometown hoping to find a good place to "do business". He often invited young people from the countryside who were fond of playing and showing off, with the blood of "heroes" to block the way of people and vehicles traveling on Highway 7 - the area passing through My Thanh and Cong Thanh communes to "beg for money".

…On the 4th day of Tet (January 26, 2012), Luyen called Dang Van Ho (residing in Cong Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district) to discuss blocking passenger buses on National Highway 7A to collect "lucky money" for the New Year. Hearing that, Ho called Nguyen Van Thao, Nguyen Van Thieu, Dang Trong Thang, Nguyen Van Anh, Nguyen Van Manh, Dang Trong Tuan, Nguyen Van Tu, Tran Khac Hoang (all residing in Cong Thanh commune) to gather at the hair salon of Ms. Tuoi (Tuan's sister) in Ngoc Ha hamlet, Cong Thanh commune.

At about 7:30 p.m. on January 27, 2012, the subjects were present at Ms. Tuoi's shop. After sitting around for a while, Ho went out to answer Luyen's phone call, then came in and said to the group: "My brother has a conflict with the bus company, let's go up here to help him resolve it." After listening to Ho, the group agreed. Ho went behind the shop to get 3 prepared swords, gave Thao 1 sword, Thieu 1 sword, and Ho held 1 sword. The 9 men rode 3 motorbikes to km19+500 on National Highway 7A and met Luyen and 2 other strange young men who were with Luyen waiting there. Luyen called Ho out to talk for a while, then came back in and said to everyone: "Let's stop the car to get some lucky money for the New Year." Everyone agreed.

About 15 minutes later, the passenger car with license plate 12K-1923 driven by Nguyen Tat Loc and the passenger car with license plate 12LD-0066 driven by Nguyen Huy Khoa came from Do Luong to Dien Chau. Luyen told Thao to go with Luyen to stop the car, Thao used a motorbike to block the car, when the car just stopped, Luyen and 2 young men with Luyen knocked on the driver's door to demand money. The driver did not open the door and did not give money, Luyen shouted: "Chop him to death". Immediately, Luyen, Thao, Thieu, Ho and two strange young men used swords to slash the windshield, rearview mirror and driver's door glass of car with license plate 12K - 1923. Immediately after that, Luyen went to car 12LD- 0066 to demand money, the driver did not open the door or give money, so Luyen, Thao, Thieu and the two young men immediately continued to slash the windshield and rear turn signal of the car. The remaining men supported effectively by blocking the car and surrounding it to prevent it from moving. About 10 minutes later, Luyen's sword broke, Luyen shouted "stop running" then the whole group got on their motorbikes and drove to Minh Thanh commune to eat and drink at a restaurant until 10 pm then returned.

After the case was discovered, Manh, Tuan, Anh and Hoang surrendered, while the others fled.

At the end of October 2012, the People's Court of Yen Thanh district opened a trial for the defendants on charges of intentionally damaging property and robbery. All four defendants were escorted into the courtroom, the oldest was 21 years old, the youngest had just turned 20. The defendants' parents were farmers with dirty hands and feet but still tried to raise their children to finish high school, hoping their children would escape the farming life. They had no idea that such a terrible thing would happen and that one day they would have to stand before the judge. The defendants confessed their actions one by one. In the back corner of the auditorium, the family members cried quietly, including a girl under 20 years old, the wife of defendant Manh. Tears of pity for her husband, for herself and for the child she was carrying in her womb. They had not yet had time to hold a wedding ceremony when disaster struck, and the two of them only had time to hastily register their marriage so that the child could be born legally.

The trial ended, the court sentenced defendant Tuan to 6 years and 9 months in prison, defendant Manh to 6 years and 3 months, Hoang and Anh each to 4 years and 9 months in prison for both crimes. The atmosphere in the auditorium was heavy, the image of 4 young faces trudging along the car to the prison haunted the people attending the trial, their relatives and even the judge presiding over the trial. Everyone sympathized with the defendants, just because of a moment of rashness, listening to the enticements and enticements, they soon "got into trouble" without having time to equip themselves with life skills.

DH (Yen Thanh District People's Court)