Couple just released from prison... charged with another crime

On July 30, Nghe An Provincial People's Court opened a trial of defendants Vi Hai Duong (born 1971), residing in Tien Phong commune, Que Phong district and Nguyen Cong Hien (born 1980), residing in Hung Thong commune, Hung Nguyen district for the crime of "Illegal drug trafficking”.

Both defendants have bad records, having been in prison many times. Defendant Duong has been tried five times for theft, robbery, drug trafficking, and possession. Defendant Hien has been imprisoned four times.

According to the indictment, the two met while serving their prison sentences. After being released from prison, Duong and Hien often contacted each other about buying and selling drugs for profit.

On January 2, 2024, Hien called Duong to order 1 heroin stick for 20 million VND, and transferred 4 million VND as a deposit in advance.

To have drugs to sell to customers, Duong went to Muong Long village, Tri Le commune to buy 7.5 taels of heroin from a subject for 9.8 million VND. After adding the amount of drugs bought at the end of 2023, Duong calculated that he had enough "goods" to deliver to customers.

In the early morning of January 6, 2024, Duong hid drugs in his shirt pocket and took a bus to Vinh station to deliver drugs to Hien as previously agreed. However, during the trip, Duong was checked by the authorities and all evidence was confiscated.

Based on this subject's testimony, the authorities arrested Nguyen Cong Hien. At first, Hien admitted to ordering drugs from Duong. Later, this subject changed his testimony and did not admit to the crime.

The investigation agency determined that in this case, defendant Vi Hai Duong must bear criminal responsibility for buying and selling more than 38 grams of drugs, and Nguyen Cong Hien must bear criminal responsibility for buying and selling more than 32 grams of drugs.

At the trial, while defendant Duong admitted to drug trafficking as charged in the indictment, defendant Hien did not plead guilty. Hien stated that he did not order drugs from Duong.

However, based on Hien's confession in the emergency detention record and the recorded testimony, Hien's testimony about transferring money to Duong to order drugs is consistent with Hien's testimony about the subject transferring money to Duong to order drugs. Hien's initial testimony is consistent with Duong's testimony, showing that the two parties did buy and sell drugs. Therefore, the prosecution of the two defendants for illegal drug trafficking is the right person, the right crime.

After a comprehensive review of the case, the panel sentenced Nguyen Cong Hien and Vi Hai Duong to 16 years in prison each for illegal drug trafficking.