Trial of a group of young men and a pregnant mother who were high in a hotel

On May 10, 2022, the People's Court of Nghe An province opened a first-instance trial with the defendants all residing in Dien Chau district, including Nguyen Van Tuan, born in 1985, residing in Dien Ngoc commune; Ho Sy Hung, born in 1985, residing in Dien Chau town and Duong Ngoc Diep, born in 2000; residing in Dien Lien commune for the crimes of "Organizing illegal use of narcotics" and "Storageillegal drugs

The subjects at the trial. Photo: An Quynh

According to Nguyen Van Tuan's statement, because he had feelings for Duong Ngoc Diep, Tuan rented a room at Sao Mai motel (Dien Thinh commune) to stay with Diep. Here, Tuan often looked for drugs to hide in the room for convenient use.

At around 10:00 p.m. on June 5, 2021, Ho Sy Hung called Tuan to say that he had a friend in Vinh City coming over and asked Tuan to rent a room and buy crystal meth for him. Tuan agreed and went with Hung to the intersection of Dien Chau town to pick up Hung's friend. After picking him up, Tuan and Hung took him to the room they had rented for 3 million at the Muong Thanh Hotel (Dien Chau).

Here, Nguyen Van Tuan called Duong Ngoc Diep to ask for help in getting ketamine and drug paraphernalia that were stored at Sao Mai motel and brought them to a rented room at Muong Thanh Dien Chau hotel. After receiving the “goods” from Diep, Tuan and the group together organized drug use and dancing. At this time, Diep knew she was 3 months pregnant but still participated with Tuan and Hung.

The "high" subjects. Photo: Binh Minh

At around 4am the same day, when he saw a friend of Hung using his phone to text someone, suspecting that person of reporting to the police, Tuan snatched the phone and threw it on the floor, then smashed it many times and dipped it in water, completely damaging it.

At around 5am the same day, the Working Group of the Nghe An Provincial Police Investigation Agency discovered and caught red-handed at the Muong Thanh Dien Chau Hotel where Tuan and Hung and their accomplices were using drugs. In addition, they also searched and seized at the Sao Mai Motel some drugs that Tuan had hidden for use.

Evidence of the case. Photo: Binh Minh

On June 9, 2021, Duong Ngoc Diep surrendered to the police investigation agency.

Through examination, Tuan was responsible for possessing 187.77 grams of Methamphetamine; 41.303 gramsMDMA drug; 3.66 grams of Ketamine and the act of organizing the illegal use of drugs. Nguyen Van Tuan is also responsible for the crime of "Property destruction".

Ho Sy Hung and Duong Ngoc Diep must be held responsible for organizing the illegal use of drugs.

Hung's friends and the two women called by Hung used drugs but did not possess them, so they were only administratively punished for illegal drug use.

At the trial, the defendants confessed honestly and showed remorse. Duong Ngoc Diep received mitigating circumstances because she turned herself in and was pregnant at the time of the crime.

Nguyen Van Tuan has two previous convictions for "Gambling" and "Production and trading of counterfeit goods", so he must bear the aggravating circumstance of dangerous recidivism.

The panel sentenced Nguyen Van Tuan to 15 years in prison for “Illegal possession of narcotics”; 7 years for “Organizing illegal use of narcotics” and 1 year for property destruction. Defendant Ho Sy Hung was sentenced to 5 years in prison, and Duong Ngoc Diep was sentenced to 3 years in prison for “Organizing illegal use of narcotics”.