14 months in prison for hiding grenades for self-defense

On the morning of July 30, 2019, Ky Son District People's Court opened the first instance trial of the criminal case of "Illegal possession of military weapons" as prescribed in Clause 1, Article 304 of the Penal Code against defendant Cu Ba Chia.

According to the case: At about 4:00 p.m. on January 4, 2019, Cu Ba Chia came home from work in the fields and picked up an oval-shaped metal block (suspected to be a grenade). Chia immediately put it in his pocket and brought it home to hide. After that, every time he went to work in the fields, Chia often carried a grenade with him for self-defense.

Subject Cu Ba Chia.

Although the authorities later persuaded Cu Ba Chia to hand it over, he did not cooperate. On January 10, 2019, Nam Can International Border Guard Station conducted a search and seized the oval-shaped metal block above, the sample was then sent for examination.

In the appraisal conclusion No. 1667/C09-P2 dated April 16, 2019 of the Institute of Criminal Science - Ministry of Public Security, it was concluded that the sample sent for appraisal was a metal-shelled duckbill grenade, manufactured in the US. This grenade is still usable. According to item d, clause 2, article 3 of Law No. 14/2017/QH14 of the National Assembly on the management and use of weapons, explosives and support tools, this grenade is a military weapon.

At the trial, Cu Ba Chia confessed and admitted to all of his crimes. Based on the nature, severity of his actions and the development of the case, the panel sentenced Cu Ba Chia to 14 months in prison for the above crime.