'Left foot just left reform school, right hand already stole property'

(Baonghean.vn) -Having 3 previous convictions for theft, and having just been released from reform school, Pham Van Ha still cannot give up his habit of stealing.

On August 24, Tan Ky District People's Court opened a first-instance criminal trial to try the property theft case against Pham Van Ha (born in 1990, residing in Tan An commune, Tan Ky district).

Defendant Pham Van Ha in court. Photo: Phuong Hao

According to the indictment, at around 0:30 a.m. on April 14, Pham Van Ha walked to block 6, Tan Ky town and discovered a workers' camp set up by the roadside, with a number of workers sleeping inside.

Pham Van Ha broke into a shack and stole 5 mobile phones of various types, worth a total of 3,235,000 VND. After the theft, Ha went to an empty lot in Tan Ky town park, removed the SIM cards and threw them away, then hid the phones under the suspension bridge in Tan An commune.

On April 18, 2017, knowing that he could no longer conceal his crime, Pham Van Ha voluntarily surrendered to Tan Ky District Police and handed over 5 cell phones.

The defendant himself has 3 previous convictions for “Theft of property”. Most recently, Ha continued his old ways and was caught by the police. Pham Van Ha was administratively punished and sent to a reform school for re-education. Just released from prison, Ha continued to steal property.

Considering the relevant circumstances, the People's Court sentenced Pham Van Ha to 2 years in prison.

Phuong Hao