Chopped down neighbor's orange garden because goats were expensive

(Baonghean.vn) - Having a conflict with Ms. Hoa because she complained that her family was selling goats at a high price and refused to buy them, Tran Dinh Dinh brought a knife to Ms. Hoa's garden and chopped down 53 orange trees. Regretting his actions, Tran Dinh Dinh went to Ms. Hoa's house to apologize and agreed to pay compensation, but for the crime of "Property Destruction", he was sentenced to 6 months in prison.

Defendant Tran Dinh Dinh at the trial. Photo: Phan Giang

On June 28, the People's Court of Quy Hop district opened a mobile trial to try the criminal case against Tran Dinh Dinh (born in 1960), residing in Minh Hop, Quy Hop district, for the crime of "Property destruction".

According to the indictment, on February 5, 2017, Ms. Tran Thi Hoa (living in the same neighborhood) went to Tran Dinh Dinh's house to ask to buy a goat. Ms. Hoa thought Dinh was selling at a high price, so she did not buy the goat from Dinh but went to another house to buy it.

Angry about Ms. Hoa saying that Dinh's family sold goats at a high price, at around 10:30 p.m. on February 6, 2017, Tran Dinh Dinh took a knife to Ms. Hoa's orange garden and chopped down 53 orange trees, 15 months old. Some trees were completely cut down, while others were not completely cut down, he stomped on them, then went home to put away the knife and went to sleep.

Regretting his actions, Tran Dinh Dinh went to Ms. Hoa's house to apologize and agreed to pay 26.5 million VND in compensation. On February 19, 2017, Tran Dinh Dinh went to the police station to surrender and confess his crime.

Orange garden was destroyed. Photo: Phan Giang

Authorities determined that the damage to the 53 15-month-old orange trees that Dinh cut down from Ms. Hoa was 10.6 million VND. Tran Dinh Dinh was prosecuted for the crime of "Property Destruction".

At the trial, the defendant Dinh admitted all his crimes and showed remorse. Ms. Tran Thi Hoa also requested the panel of judges to consider reducing the sentence for the defendant Dinh.

The panel of judges determined that Tran Dinh Dinh’s actions violated the property of others, caused damage to citizens’ property, and disturbed public order and security in the area. However, after the incident, the defendant proactively compensated Ms. Hoa for the damage, surrendered, confessed honestly, and had a good personal history… These are mitigating circumstances according to the law.

Considering the case comprehensively, the People's Court sentenced Tran Dinh Dinh to 6 months in prison for the above crime./.

Phan Giang