The business deal of two ex-convicts

On March 29, Nghe An Provincial People's Court opened a first-instance criminal trial of two defendants Lo Van Xoan (born in 1980), residing in Chau Thuan commune, Quy Chau district, and Kem Van Tung (born in 1979), residing in Chau Loc commune, Quy Hop district, for the crime of "Illegal drug trafficking".

Both defendants have bad personal records. Defendant Xoan has been to prison three times for theft of property.robberyand illegal possession of drugs.

Defendant Kem Van Tung was sentenced to 1 year and 3 months in prison with a suspended sentence for the crime of Sexual Intercourse with a Child.

The two defendants Tung and Xoan in court. Photo: Tran Vu

Not long after serving her sentence, Xoan started trafficking drugs again. On August 14, 2020, Xoan went to distribute acacia trees for hire and met Tung. There, Xoan told Tung that she had drugs and asked if anyone wanted to buy drugs.

At the suggestion of his friend, Tung contacted a buyer to buy the “goods”. After finding a buyer for the drugs, Tung reported back to Xoan. Lo Van Xoan then bought 4 packages of drugs for 9.6 million VND.

On August 21, Xoan sold the drugs to Tung for 12 million VND. Because he did not have the money, Tung asked for a debt extension.

Tung then sold the four packages of drugs to a customer for 14 million VND. While Tung was taking the “goods” for the customer to check, the police arrived and arrested him. Taking advantage of the loophole, the drug buyer fled.

At the trial, the two defendants admitted to drug trafficking. Both defendants blamed their difficult circumstances for selling drugs to... feed their children.

The panel of judges determined that in this case, defendant Lo Van Xoan committed a crime that was considered a repeat offender and was sentenced to 17 years in prison, while defendant Kem Van Tung was sentenced to 16 years in prison.