Man sentenced to death for transporting drugs for hire.

On December 20th, the Hanoi High Court opened a retrial hearing for defendant Quang Van Ai (born in 1976), residing in Chieu Luu, Ky Son district, Nghe An province, on the charge of illegally transporting narcotics.

Defendant Quang Van Ai. Photo: Ngoc Anh

According to the indictment, at approximately 6 PM on December 29, 2017, Ha Ba Long, residing in Lac Xao town, Bolikhamsai province (Laos), approached Ai and hired him to transport drugs to Vinh City for a fee of 30 million dong. Without a moment's hesitation, Ai agreed. Ai drove Long to the edge of the forest to retrieve a green sack containing 5 blocks of heroin, 8 kg of methamphetamine, and 2 packets of ecstasy. Long placed the drugs in Ai's car trunk and instructed Ai to go to Vinh bus station where someone would meet him and deliver the drugs. Upon completion, Long would pay Ai the 30 million dong fee.

At approximately 7 PM on the same day, Quang Van Ai drove his car home to pick up his son, Quang Van Toan. At around 8:30 PM that same day, when Quang Van Ai reached Bam slope in Cam Son commune, Anh Son district (Nghe An province), he was caught red-handed by law enforcement officers, who seized all the evidence.

At the first-instance trial held on April 18th, the Nghe An Provincial People's Court sentenced defendant Nguyen Quang Ai to death for illegally transporting narcotics. As for Quang Van Toan, Ai's son, who accompanied him but was unaware of the drug trafficking, he was not prosecuted. Nguyen Van Ai has filed an appeal to the High People's Court requesting a reduction in his sentence.

At this hearing, after receiving advice and explanations from his lawyer, the defendant Quang Van Ai withdrew his appeal, expressing remorse and repentance, and wishing to submit a petition to the President requesting a pardon. Therefore, the High People's Court suspended the appellate trial of this case.