Bodyguard of famous bar in Vinh City receives 16 years in prison for 'carrying' white goods

On September 14, Nghe An Provincial People's Court opened a first-instance criminal trial of Thai Van Nam (26 years old), residing in Dong Vinh ward, Vinh city, for the crime of "Illegal drug trafficking”.

Nam had a period of military service. Returning to his hometown in 2017, Nam worked as a bodyguard at a famous bar in Vinh City. In that complicated and tempting working environment, Nam could not control himself and got involved in drug trafficking.

The defendant confessed that during his time as a bodyguard forbar, Nam met a man named Thuy (unknown background and specific address). Early in the afternoon of March 20, 2020, Nam received a phone call from Thuy telling him to go to an apartment building in Hung Loc commune, Vinh city to get 150 pills of drugs to deliver to a customer named Duc to bring back 49.5 million VND, and would receive 4.5 million VND as a salary.

Defendant Thai Van Nam in court. Photo: Tran Vu

Nam agreed to pick up the “goods”. After receiving the drugs, Nam called Duc, who changed the delivery time and location several times. Late that afternoon, Nam was asked by the buyer to deliver the goods to a temple in Dong Vinh ward.

While Thai Van Nam was waiting for someone to buy drugs, he was arrested by the police with more than 72 grams of drugs.

In court, defendant Nam expressed remorse and asked for a lighter sentence for his wrongdoings. Nam presented his difficult circumstances, his wife had just given birth, and his elderly and sick parents, to ask for a lighter sentence.

Considering the case as a whole, the People's Court sentenced Thai Van Nam to 16 years in prison for illegal drug trafficking.

In this case, there are also men named Thuy and Duc. Because Nam does not know their background or specific address, the investigation agency has no basis to investigate and handle them.