Former death-sentenced teacher withdraws appeal to ask for clemency

The sad story on Pa Khom peak

(Baonghean.vn) - From a teacher, an example of love for Mong students, Tho Pa Sau has now become a death row inmate for trading in "white death". On the day Pa Sau received the death penalty, many relatives and colleagues were still surprised because no one thought that a teacher like Pa Sau would step onto the path of death because of the magic of money.

On the morning of December 19, the High People's Court in Hanoi opened a criminal trial, an appeal trial for defendant Tho Pa Sau (born in 1975, former teacher at Pa Khom school, Tri Le 2 Primary School, Que Phong district) for the crime of illegal drug trafficking.

According to records, on the evening of April 22, Sau carried a sack containing 15 heroin cakes and 20 packages of opium (total weight of more than 7.1 kg) to a car on the side of the road to deliver to a customer when he was discovered and arrested by the authorities.

Sau then stated: on the afternoon of April 22, Sau received a phone call from a man named Xong Ba Tua (Laotian, specific address unknown) telling him to go to Chau Thon commune to deliver drugs to a customer. Sau went to the meeting point and was given 400 USD by Tua as payment.

In the evening, following Tua's instructions, Sau carried the sack containing the "goods" to a car on the side of the road to deliver to the customer, but was discovered and arrested by the authorities. The subject named Tua escaped into the forest, and the car quickly sped away.

Police escorted Tho Pa Sau to the Nghe An Provincial Police Detention Center. Photo: Khanh An

On September 19, the People's Court of Nghe An Province held a first-instance trial and sentenced Sau to death for drug trafficking. Sau later appealed to have his sentence reduced from death to life imprisonment. In his appeal, defendant Sau stated his family's difficult circumstances and claimed that he only helped Tua translate and was paid $400 for his translation fee.

At the appeal hearing, defendant Sau could not provide new details for the Trial Panel to consider reducing his sentence and could not prove that Tua called Sau to hire an interpreter.

After receiving advice from a lawyer and explanations from relatives, defendant Sau withdrew his appeal and expressed remorse in order to submit a petition to the President for clemency.

Therefore, the Appellate Court suspended the appeal trial. When being led to the car to return to the Nghe An Provincial Police Detention Center, defendant Sau raised his head to look back at his relatives, tears welling up in his eyes.