Bringing drugs to 'pay' father's hospital bills

(Baonghean.vn) - Kien took a taxi to the hospital to visit his father, but when he saw the police, he threw the drugs on the street in an attempt to escape punishment. Caught red-handed, Kien still evaded the crime and refused to admit his actions.

On the morning of March 31, the Provincial People's Court sentenced Hoang Anh Kien (born 1975, residing in Hoa Hieu ward, Thai Hoa town) to 12 years in prison for "Illegal possession of narcotics".

Defendant Hoang Anh Kien. Photo: Nhu Binh

The indictment stated that on October 10, 2016, Hoang Anh Kien went to his sister’s house to get 7 million to go to Vinh City to pay for his father’s hospital bill. Kien called a taxi to take him to Yen Ly intersection (Dien Chau).

Arriving at the Yen Ly intersection, thinking he was being followed, Kien told the driver to stop by the side of the road and quickly threw a black plastic bag down. At this time, the Coast Guard Region 1 detected suspicious signs so they quickly made a record and searched the car.

Checking the plastic bag, the police discovered many small packages containing white powder, later determined to be 69.65 grams of heroin hidden in a shampoo box. Checking Kien's residence, the police seized another 1.25 grams of heroin hidden carefully under the bed.

Hoang Anh Kien was prosecuted before the law for the crime of "Illegal possession of narcotics".

However, during the investigation and public debate in court, Kien refused to admit to storing 69.65 grams of heroin in the taxi, but only admitted to illegally storing 1.25 grams of heroin at his home.

However, based on the record of the crime caught in the act, documents collected during the investigation and testimony of witnesses, the People's Court determined that the Provincial People's Procuracy's prosecution of Hoang Anh Kien for illegally possessing 70.9g of heroin was the right person, the right crime, and the right law.

Hoang Anh Kien was a serious drug addict. In 2002, Kien was sentenced to 8 years in prison by the People's Court of Nghia Dan district for drug-related crimes. After being released from prison, Kien relapsed and was sent to compulsory drug rehabilitation but still could not quit heroin.

The panel of judges determined that Hoang Anh Kien had a bad personal history, committed a particularly dangerous crime, and lacked sincerity... so a severe sentence with sufficient deterrence was needed.

Nhu Binh