Mother of 'chicken delivery girl' on trial.
Ms. Tran Thi Hien (44 years old, mother of the victim in the murder case of the young chicken delivery girl) and 4 accomplices are on trial today for drug trafficking.
The trial opened at the Dien Bien Provincial People's Court. Ms. Hien, along with Bui Van Cong (44 years old), Vi Van Toan, Vi Thi Thu (both 37 years old, Toan's wife), and Luong Van Hung (39 years old) were prosecuted for the crime.Illegal trafficking of narcoticsAccording to Clause 4, Article 194 of the 1999 Penal Code. Toan was also tried for an additional crime.Harboring or facilitating the illegal use of narcotics.According to Article 256 of the 2015 Penal Code, the prosecution's penalty range for the five defendants is up to 20 years, life imprisonment, or the death penalty.
The preliminary hearing is scheduled to last one day. Defendant Hien has hired two defense lawyers. The other four defendants each have lawyers appointed by the Dien Bien Provincial People's Court to protect their legal rights and interests.
According to Chief Justice Pham Van Nam of the Dien Bien Provincial People's Court, the case file shows that Ms. Hien did not admit to the drug trafficking activities and claimed not to know the four accomplices. Recognizing the complexity of the case, the court leadership assigned an experienced judge to preside over the trial.
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Ms. Tran Thi Hien (center) at the investigative agency. Photo:Sea Swallow |
According to the indictment, in late May 2017, Ms. Hien went to Cong's house to order 4 blocks of heroin at a price of 160 million VND per block. Cong agreed and went to Thu's house in Dien Bien district to place an order at a price of 150 million VND per block.
Thu went to the Vietnam-Laos border to buy two blocks of heroin from a stranger for 160 million VND per block. At the end of May 2017, Cong took the drugs from Thu's house and delivered them to Ms. Hien, receiving 290 million VND in return. Ms. Hien owed him 30 million VND.
In addition, Cong and Thu also repeatedly bought and sold drugs to local addicts.
The indictment states that in this case, Ms. Hien initiated the transaction and directly dealt in the purchase and sale of two blocks of heroin with Cong. Toan and Hung were active accomplices.
During the investigation, all the defendants admitted to buying and selling heroin. Ms. Hien denied this, but the investigating agency still had sufficient grounds to determine that she had bought and sold two blocks of heroin weighing over 700 grams.
According to the Dien Bien Police, the fact that Ms. Hien owed Cong 30 million VND and Toan 300 million VND from another drug trafficking operation was the reason her daughter was kidnapped and murdered in early February. In this case, Toan, Cong, and Hung were the main perpetrators, assisted by six accomplices.