Nghe An Court sentences 'couple' to death for transporting contraband for half a billion dong in wages

On the morning of May 13, 2022, the People's Court of Nghe An province opened a trial of Giang Seo Hoa (born in 1989; residing in Muong Khuong district, Lao Cai province) and Vang Seo Su (born in 1996; residing in Muong Khuong district, Lao Cai province) for the crime of "illegally transporting drugs".

Defendants Giang Seo Hoa and Vang Seo Su at the trial (from left to right). Photo: An Quynh.

Previously, on January 17, 2021, Giang Seo Hoa received a call to hire a transporter to transport a quantity of "goods" from Nghe An to Lao Cai for 500 million VND. However, due to fear of being arrested, Giang Seo Hoa called and told Vang Seo Su to come to his house to discuss the matter. Here, Hoa raised the issue of transporting "banned goods" from Nghe An to Lao Cai for 500 million VND, if Su agreed, Hoa would take 50 million VND as a fee. Blinded by the huge amount of money, Su immediately agreed.

At around 8:00 a.m. on January 19, 2022, Giang Seo Hoa went to the house of the person who hired him to transport drugs, took 30 million and gave it to Su to rent a car to Nghe An to transport the "goods".

On January 20, 2022, Vang Seo Su went to Lao Cai city to rent a pickup truck and started going to Thanh Thuy commune, Thanh Chuong district (Nghe An province) according to the instructions of the renter.

When they arrived at Thanh Thuy border gate, a man used his flashlight to signal Su to stop the car. When the car stopped, the man opened the back door and 6 other people put 6 backpacks in the back seat and ran into the forest.

After receiving the “goods”, Su drove home. When he arrived at Ngoc Lam commune, Thanh Chuong district, he was discovered and caught red-handed. The results of the examination determined that the 6 backpacks contained nearly 112 kg of drugs.

At the first instance trial, contrary to his testimony at the Investigation Police Agency, Giang Seo Hoa claimed that he did not hire Vang Seo Su to transport the "goods" and that the defendant's confession at the Investigation Agency was due to... the shackles being too big, causing the defendant to panic and give false testimony.

However, after questioning, Giang Seo Hoa confessed that he was hired by someone in the village.transportThe goods cost 500 million VND, but the goods are unknown, only suspected to be rhino horn or pangolin.

Faced with clear evidence presented at the trial, both defendants bowed their heads and admitted their guilt. Both admitted that they were blinded by the huge amount of money and so “risked” their lives.

With this exceptionally large amount of drugs, both Hoa and Su were proposed to be sentenced to death by the representative of the People's Procuracy of Nghe An province who held the right to prosecute at the trial. The two defendants were aware of their crimes but still hoped for leniency from the law so they could have a chance to live.

Defendant Giang Seo Hoa when he saw his wife and children. Photo: An Quynh.

At the trial, only Giang Seo Hoa's wife and children attended. The three children sat outside the lobby waiting for a long time before they were allowed to see their father when the panel of judges deliberated. Unlike during the debate, Giang Seo Hoa burst into tears, Hoa's hands clasped together when he saw his two sons sobbing.

The panel of judges announced the verdict. With the above amount of drugs, the two defendants Giang Seo Hoa and Vang Seo Su were sentenced by the People's Court of Nghe An province.death penalty

Surely at this point Giang Seo Hoa truly felt regretful and felt wrong for his actions, but it seemed too late….