Nghe An: Prison sentence reduced for district officials gambling

Because the defendant committed the crime for the first time, confessed honestly, repented, and had many achievements in his work, the panel of judges decided to reduce the sentence from 9 months in prison to 9 months suspended sentence.

On the morning of March 7, the People's Court of Nghe An province opened an appeal trial of a gambling case that occurred in Tuong Duong district in December 2011. Involved in this case are Vi Thi Huong - an official of the Office of the People's Committee of Tuong Duong district, Dang Thanh Nham - an official of the Department of Education and Training of Tuong Duong district, Nguyen Canh Ha - a teacher at Xa Luong High School and Vo Van Soan - a security guard for a local project.

In the first instance trial on December 29, 2011, the People's Court of Tuong Duong district sentenced Vi Thi Huong to 9 months in prison, Vo Van Soan to 8 months suspended imprisonment, Nguyen Canh Ha and Dang Thanh Nham to 6 months suspended imprisonment each for gambling. Defendant Nguyen Thi Hien (Ha Dong block, Hoa Binh town, Tuong Duong) was sentenced to 7 months suspended imprisonment for harboring gambling.

After the first-instance trial, Vi Thi Huong filed an appeal to the People's Court of Nghe An province, requesting a reduction in her prison sentence. In the appeal hearing on March 7, the panel of judges stated that the defendant Huong committed a crime for the first time in a less serious case, confessed honestly, repented, and had more than 20 years of work with many achievements, her family members are civil servants, and she herself is sick. Therefore, the People's Court of Nghe An province accepted the appeal, reducing Vi Thi Huong's sentence from 9 months in prison to 9 months suspended and a probation of 17 months and 16 days, and assigned the People's Committee of Tuong Duong district to supervise and educate her during the probation period.

By: Dan Tri