The trial was postponed for the second time because the defendant had to undergo a psychiatric examination.

(Baonghean.vn) - On the morning of August 20, the People's Court of Nghe An province brought the case of illegal drug trafficking against Nguyen Quoc Khanh (born 1960), Nguyen Thi Tuat (born 1995), and Cu Minh Tuan (born 1985), all residing in Vinh city, to public trial.

Three defendants in the dock.

Nguyen Quoc Khanh and Nguyen Thi Luat had a romantic relationship. Khanh often used Luat's phone to call Laos to buy drugs for his own use or to sell to addicts. Khanh assigned Luat to collect money from selling drugs to addicts.

On the night of August 17, 2014, Khanh invited Luat to the border area to buy 20 heroin cakes and 3 packages of synthetic drugs for 47,000 USD from a Laotian and then brought them to Luat's house to hide. On the evening of August 19, 2014, Khanh asked Luat to bring the drugs to Khanh's house to give to Cu Minh Tuan to take to Hanoi to sell.

When Tuan brought 20 heroin cakes to Dien Thinh commune (Dien Chau, Nghe An), he was arrested by the Drug Crime Prevention Police Department of Nghe An Province. Based on Tuan's statement, the police arrested Khanh and Luat while they were in a hotel room in Vinh City. When the police raided, Khanh pulled out a pistol to fight back but was subdued.

The investigation agency clarified that Nguyen Quoc Khanh must bear criminal responsibility for the quantity of more than 7kg of heroin (equivalent to 20 heroin cakes) and 299.41 grams of methamphetamine. Tuan and Luat must bear responsibility for the quantity of more than 7kg of heroin.

When the judge examined the defendant’s background, Khanh complained of a headache and could not remember anything to testify. The lawyer defending Nguyen Quoc Khanh argued that the defendant showed many signs of mental illness, so he requested the court to temporarily suspend the case to assess Khanh’s mental health.

After deliberation, the panel of judges announced a temporary suspension of the case to send Nguyen Quoc Khanh for a mental health assessment. Previously, during the trial on March 20, 2015, the presiding judge had to announce a postponement because the defendant Khanh complained of a headache and could not remember anything to testify./.

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