The brother's regret for dragging his younger brother into prison
(Baonghean.vn) - Seeing the older brother repeatedly turn to apologize to his crying younger brother made everyone in the courtroom think. Just because of greed, the older brother "dragged" his younger brother into the law, and now the whole family has to meet in a place no one wants.
On the day two brothers Xong Tong Xo (32 years old) and Xong Tieng (21 years old), both residing in Hua Phan province, Lao PDR, were brought to trial by the People's Court of Nghe An province for the crime of "Illegal drug trafficking”, The wives of the two defendants also brought their children to court. As soon as they saw the two defendants with their hands cuffed, they burst into tears.
The two wives had to stand outside the courtroom with their children on their backs. While the mother kept wiping away her tears, the children slept soundly on her back. They were too young to understand the tragedy that had befallen their family because of their father’s mistake.
Xong Tong Xo and Xong Tieng are brothers. Both are married and have their own lives. But locally, two small families still live close to each other in the Mong community. In addition to farming, the two brothers also work hard to earn money to take care of their families and raise their wives and children. But then, the peaceful life of the two families was no longer there since the day the two men, the breadwinners, "carried" a large amount of drugs from Laos to Vietnam to sell.
According to the case file, the person who initiated the illegal drug trade was Xong Tong Xo. Previously, Xo knew Xong Cho (a Laotian) and this person ordered 15 kg of opium and 60 packages of pink phien to sell to customers in Vietnam.
Xo agreed, so on the afternoon of January 23, 2023, he went to the forest area and bought 11 kg of opium (priced at 33 million Lao Kip) and 60 packages of pink pheasant (priced at 66 million Lao Kip) from a man of unknown origin. Because he did not have the money yet, Xo asked to defer the debt and pay later when he sold the "goods". With the seller's consent, Xo brought the drugs home and divided them into 2 backpacks.
The next day, before leaving, Xo invited his younger brother Xong Tieng to help him transport drugs to Vietnam. Then, the two brothers carried backpacks full of drugs and cut through the forest to reach the Vietnamese border. When they arrived at Mai Son commune, Tuong Duong district, they met Xong Cho (the person who had previously ordered the drugs) waiting for them. At this time, Cho said that the customer would receive the drugs the next day, so the three of them slept in the forest.
Early the next morning, when the two brothers Xong Tong Xo and Xong Tieng were carrying a backpack full of drugs to deliver to a customer, they were arrested by Nghe An authorities. Only Xong Cho quickly escaped.
During the trial, the two defendants confessed their crimes. The older brother stated that the drugs that the police caught red-handed were bought on credit from a Laotian. Xo confessed that only his brothers in the family could be trusted completely and kept secret, so he invited his younger brother to join. The defendant planned to share the drugs with his younger brother after selling them, but the deal was exposed...
Seeing his younger brother cry many times in court, the older brother expressed remorse. Xong Tong Xo turned to look at his younger brother many times with eyes full of pity. Because, it was Xo who dragged his younger brother into crime and now both of them had to go to jail. The defendant repeatedly apologized and hoped the court would consider reducing his brother's sentence.
Standing next to him, defendant Xong Tieng also bowed his head and admitted his guilt. The defendant explained his difficult family circumstances and limited legal awareness. The two defendants asked the jury to consider leniency so they could return to their country, rebuild their lives, and support their wives and children.
Through an interpreter, both defendants shared that since being detained, they have always missed their wives and children. Even in their sleep, the defendants often wake up and think about their families. Since being arrested, they have rarely been visited by their relatives and wives and children because of the great distance and financial constraints. However, the two defendants confided that they do not blame their parents, wives and children. On the contrary, they both owe their relatives an apology.
In the precious moment of meeting their loved ones, wives and children, both of them continuously apologized and gave instructions. Although they knew their apologies were too late, they clearly understood that the opportunity to meet their wives, children and loved ones in the upcoming years of serving their sentences would be difficult.
As the initiator and direct perpetrator of drug trafficking, defendant Xong Tong Xo was sentenced to life in prison by the Trial Council. Meanwhile, his younger brother Xong Tieng was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
The trial ended, the image of a young woman carrying her child on her back, running after her husband for a while and then stopping made many people feel sorry. From now until many years later, those women will have to replace their husbands to take care of the family, raise their young children….
