Death sentence upheld for escaped prisoner Nguyen Van Tinh
The appeal for a lighter sentence for escaped death row inmate Nguyen Van Tinh and eight accomplices was not accepted by the appellate court.
 Nguyen Van Tinh (left cover) and his accomplices at the trial - Photo: MH |
On April 11, the High People's Court in Hanoi heard the appeal of Nguyen Van Tinh (one of two death row inmates who escaped from solitary confinement) and eight accomplices in the case of trafficking 1,182 heroin cakes.
Tinh and Le Van Tho (aka Tho "sút") were both sentenced to death in two different drug cases and are being held in detention pending appeal.
The incident of two death row inmates escaping from T16 detention camp - Ministry of Public Security that happened in early September 2017 shocked public opinion.
On September 6, 2017, Tinh and Tho learned through the detention center's loudspeaker system that there would be storms in the Hanoi area. The two discussed and planned their escape.
Two death row inmates prepared some items to carry out their plan to escape from solitary confinement during a storm and tore two blankets into ropes to use for their escape.
In the early morning of September 11, two death row inmates escaped from solitary confinement and jumped over the wall outside the detention camp.
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| Nguyen Van Tinh was arrested at the time of the death row inmate's escape from solitary confinement - Photo: Giang Long |
The appeal hearing on April 11 heard the case of trafficking 1,182 heroin cakes in which Tinh and 8 other accomplices participated, according to the defendants' appeal for innocence and request for a reduction in their sentences.
The defendants were brought to trial for illegal drug trafficking and illegal possession of military weapons.
According to the first instance verdict, Nguyen Van Tinh knew Nguyen Thanh Tuan (partner of "boss" Dang Minh Chau). Tinh knew Tuan was wanted for illegal drug trafficking but still went to Tuan's house in Van Ho district (Son La) to visit.
Some time later, Tinh joined the drug ring led by Chau and Tuan.
In this case, authorities determined that Tinh had bought and sold 80 heroin cakes.
Investigation documents show that in early November 2015, Tuan received an order for 80 heroin cakes from Chau. Tuan directed Tinh to rent a house in Thach That district (Hanoi) to hide the drugs, disguising it as a candy warehouse.
After finishing the job, Tuan ordered his men to bring 80 heroin cakes hidden in the spare tire of the Fortuner from Van Ho to the warehouse Tinh had rented.
Here, Tinh and his accomplices slashed the tires of the car to get the drugs and hid them in boxes of candy. When Chau and his accomplices came to get the drugs, Tinh showed them the way and led them to the warehouse to get them.
With the above behavior, at the first instance trial, Tinh was sentenced to death by the Hanoi People's Court for the crime of illegal drug trafficking.
At the appeal hearing, the representative of the Procuracy requested the panel of judges to reject the appeal and uphold the original judgment.
At the end of the appeal trial, the High People's Court in Hanoi rejected the appeal of the 9 defendants and upheld the first instance verdict.
Regarding the escape from solitary confinement, the Hanoi City Police Department of Investigation also issued an investigation conclusion proposing to prosecute Tinh and Tho "Sut" for the crime of escaping from detention.
