Mother sold her 20-day-old baby for 40 million VND

On July 18, the People's Court of Nghe An province opened a first-instance criminal trial for the case of human trafficking under 16 years old against Van Thi Luyen (born 1993), Cut Thi Tha (born 1986), both residing in Bac Ly commune; Ven Thi Xy (born 1985) and Moong Van Thoai (born 1980, Xy's husband), both residing in Pha Danh commune, Ky Son district.

The victim in this case is Ven Thi Th. H (born October 28, 2018), the biological child of Van Thi Luyen. Because H. is not yet 1 year old, Luyen was released on bail to take care of her child.

Van Thi Luyen holding her child to court. Photo: Khanh An

Previously, at 2:00 a.m. on November 18, 2018, Con Cuong District Police received information that Cut Thi Tha was carrying a newborn baby onto a passenger bus on the Ky Son route to Hanoi.

During the process of moving the subject, there were many strange signs, and the child kept crying, Con Cuong District Police coordinated with Dien Chau Traffic Police Station under the Traffic Police Department (Nghe An Provincial Police) to administratively inspect the above passenger vehicle and asked Cut Thi Tha to come to the police headquarters for clarification. Tha confessed that she intended to sell the child to a woman in Dien Chau District to take them to Hanoi.

Defendant Ven Thi Xy. Photo: Khanh An

According to the indictment of the People's Procuracy of Nghe An province, because he knew that Luyen had just given birth but did not want to raise the child, on November 13, 20018, Tha and Xy and Thoai discussed and agreed with Luyen to sell Ven Thi Th. H (Luyen's daughter) to a woman at the intersection of Dien Chau town for 40 million VND.

The parties agreed that after selling H., Luyen had to pay Tha 5 million VND, and Xy and Thoai 3 million VND. On the way, Tha brought H. to sell in front of Muong Thanh Hotel (Con Cuong) and was discovered and arrested.

On November 14 and 16, 2018, Luyen, Xy, and Thoai went to Con Cuong District Police to surrender and report the whole incident.

Regarding the woman at the Dien Chau town intersection, Xy knew and contacted her by phone. Currently, her full name and background are not yet determined, so the Investigation Police Agency (Nghe An Provincial Police) is continuing to verify and clarify, and will handle the matter later.

At the trial, the defendants confessed honestly, expressed remorse, and asked for a reduced sentence.

After considering aggravating and mitigating circumstances, the first instance panel sentenced Luyen to 8 years in prison, Tha to 6 years in prison, Xy to 5 years in prison, and Thoai to 3 years in prison.