What made the former teacher risk his life for 'white goods'?

Being the eldest child in a family of 7 siblings, his parents only worked in the fields, their circumstances were difficult butBa Xia Tower(Born in 1974), residing in Nam Can commune, Ky Son district, his parents created favorable conditions for him to study.

After graduating from high school, Xia continued her studies and became a teacher. In 2000, the fact that an ethnic minority like Xia became a teacher was not only the pride of her family but also the joy of the villagers.

After graduating, Xia took on the responsibility of teaching her own people's children. At a secondary school in Ky Son district, Xia taught Literature and History.

During her teaching career, Xia received many Certificates of Merit from the Education sector. Xia's joy was even greater when a son also followed in his father's footsteps and became a teacher. Loved and respected by colleagues and students, Xia then got involved in a business transaction.drugThe news that teacher Lau Ba Xia was arrested for trafficking more than 4.5 kg of drugs surprised his colleagues and students.

All regrets and remorse are now too late for Xia. Photo: Tran Vu

On May 19, 2020, Xia received a phone call from a man named Nguyen Van Hoang (residing in Da Nang City) ordering 4 kg of crystal meth, 200 bags of pink phien and 2 heroin cakes.

Because he knew this person, Xia agreed and promised to have the drugs in a few days. Then, Xia called a person on the other side of the border named Lau Giong Xa to order the above drugs. At this time, Xa reported that there were only: 2 kg of crystal meth, 97 bags of pink meth, 2 heroin cakes, selling for 840 million VND. Xia agreed but asked for a debt extension and was agreed. Then, Xia reported back to Hoang, raising the price to 930 million VND. Hoang agreed and made an appointment to receive the "goods" at a motel in Chieu Luu commune, Ky Son district.

On May 22, Xia went to school as usual. That same afternoon, after school, Xia rode a motorbike to meet Xa to receive the drugs. Afterwards, Xia put all the "goods" in a sack and brought them to a motel in Chieu Luu commune that Hoang had booked. That same evening, while Lau Ba Xia was in the motel waiting for the drug buyer to come and get the "goods", the police raided and arrested him along with more than 4.5 kg of various drugs.

On the day of the first instance trial of defendant Lau Ba Xia, a group of relatives traveled a long way to the court. Among them were the defendant's wife and children. The wife, who had been busy all year round with farming, taking care of the children, and managing the housework so that her husband could stand in class with peace of mind, could not stop shedding tears when she saw her husband in this difficult situation. Looking at his wife, children, and relatives sitting sadly below, Xia revealed a face of regret and sadness and then told his wife something.

Lau Ba Xia used to be a teacher with many years of experience in the profession, but now that former teacher is standing before the witness stand. His hands that used to hold chalk trembled in the cold handcuffs. The defendant admitted to drug trafficking because of greed. “Now I cannot explain my actions. I participated in drug trafficking because of greed. If the difference of 90 million VND in this case is successful, I will benefit from half, the rest will go to Xa,” defendant Xia stated.

But there were times when Xia thought he was wronged. “If the defendant was buying and selling drugs, the prosecutor had to prove who bought them. That day, when the police raided the room, only the defendant was in the room, no one was buying drugs,” Xia explained. However, the prosecutor, who participated in the prosecution at court, affirmed that the prosecution of the defendant for illegal drug trafficking was the right person, the right crime, and the right law. After a while of beating around the bush, Xia admitted his guilt and affirmed that “the defendant was not wronged.”

When asked by a jury what the defendant thought about being a teacher for 20 years but selling drugs? Xia answered, “I violated ethics.” Facing the death penalty, the defendant asked to live to have a chance to start over and correct his mistakes. But with the exceptionally large amount of drugs, the jury sentenced Lau Ba Xia to death.

Once a shining example, enthusiastic and devoted to educating many generations of students, Xia was blinded by greed. If Xia had bluntly refused the invitations of drug dealers, perhaps Xia would still be a respected teacher at the secondary school in the mountainous district of Ky Son. Or if Xia had known to take the example of former teacher Tho Pa Sau (a teacher at a school in Tri Le commune) who was also sentenced to death for drugs as a lesson for himself, perhaps things would have been different. But it was too late, his hands were already dirty, Xia had to pay with his life.