Holding a grenade in the cultural house and threatening to kill the village chief

On the morning of May 21, Tan Ky District People's Court tried the criminal case against Dinh Xuan Hai, born in 1961, residing in Nuoc Xanh hamlet, Giai Xuan commune, for threatening to kill and illegally possessing military weapons.

At about 2:20 p.m. on October 6, 2019, Hai arrived at the Cultural House of Nuoc Xanh hamlet and saw Mr. Tran Van Khuyen - Hamlet Chief, Mrs. Dinh Thi Ngoc - Hamlet Accountant, and Mr. Dinh Xuan Son, Hamlet Committee Member, organizing the collection of funds for local construction to build new rural areas.

Defendant Dinh Xuan Hai in court. Photo: Phuong Hao

Thinking about the local land reclamation, Hai went to him and said: "You took 1.2 sao of my land, I will kill you." Although Mr. Khuyen had explained the policy of land consolidation and plot exchange to build new rural areas to Hai, Hai was still upset so he went home and went to the base of a coffee tree to get a grenade that Hai had picked up in 1991 while digging a tunnel to exploit red stone in Chau Binh commune, Quy Chau district.

Then, Hai drove a motorbike carrying the grenade to the Cultural House, sat next to Mr. Khuyen, and continued to say: "I will kill you", then used his right hand, which was holding the grenade, to put it around Mr. Khuyen's neck, while Hai's left index finger hooked the grenade pin.

Seeing that, some people were scared and ran out of the Cultural House. Mr. Son tried to stop him, so Hai left Mr. Khuyen and took the grenade home.

After Hai returned, Mr. Khuyen reported the incident to the Giai Xuan Commune Police. The Tan Ky District Police opened a case and investigated to clarify the matter.

Panorama of the trial. Photo: Phuong Hao

Hai was then prosecuted for threatening to kill the victim because of official duties and for illegally using military weapons.

At the trial, Hai was sentenced to 42 months in prison.

Previously, Hai had a criminal record for intentionally causing injury and robbery.