Drug addict gets sentence reduced for helping police arrest criminals

On the morning of November 19, Nghe An Provincial People's Court opened a criminal appeal trial of defendant Le Van Trung (born 1989), residing in Nam Xuan commune, Nam Dan district, for the crime of "Illegal possession of narcotics".

According to the investigation agency's documents, at around 6:00 p.m. on May 18, 2019, Trung went from Nam Dan district to the old bus station area (in Le Loi ward, Vinh city) to buy drugs for use. Here, Trung met a man of unknown origin who asked to buy a package of drugs for 17 million VND.

Defendant Le Van Trung at the trial. Photo: Tran Vu

Trung paid a deposit of 5 million VND in advance, then the two sides agreed on the time and place of delivery. At around 7:00 p.m. on May 19, Trung went to the VRC entertainment center (in Quan Bau ward, Vinh city) and met a man about 35 years old. This man went to the place where Trung was playing games and threw down a package of drugs in a cigarette pack. Trung picked up the package of drugs, put it in his pocket, promised to pay back the remaining debt tomorrow and then continued playing games. About 10 minutes later, Trung was discovered and caught red-handed by the Vinh City Police Criminal Task Force, who seized 40.030 grams of drugs.

The first instance trial by the People’s Court of Nam Dan district sentenced Le Van Trung to 11 years in prison for “Illegal possession of narcotics”. Trung later appealed, asking for a reduction in his sentence.

At the appeal hearing, Trung stated that he had helped Ha Tinh City Police arrest criminals. “The defendant has divorced his wife, so I ask the court to consider reducing his sentence so that he can return home to take care of his children,” the defendant told the court.

The panel of judges determined that the defendant’s actions were dangerous to society. At this trial, the defendant presented new details as a basis for considering a reduction in sentence. Considering the case as a whole, the court decided to accept the defendant’s appeal and amend the first instance sentence from 11 years in prison to 9 years in prison for “Illegal possession of narcotics” against Le Van Trung.