VIETNAM: FOUR SENTENCED TO DEATH IN NOTORIOUS HCMC GANG TRIAL

April 27, 2009: the five-day trial of a notorious Ho Chi Minh City gang in Vietnam ended with four death penalties for two murders and a string of robberies between 2004 and 2006.
Huynh Van Hoa, 40, and his accomplices Tran Hai Trung, Nguyen Van Tuan and Tran Minh Phuong were sentenced to death.
In 2005, Hoa shot local resident Dao Hung Cuong dead. In 2006, Trung shot dead another resident, Thai Hy Chen, when five gang members including Hoa, attempted to rob him of a bag containing VND128 million.
Hoa began a life on the streets at age 11 when his mother committed suicide and his father was sent to jail. He was arrested for his first robbery at age 12.
Three gang members, Nguyen Van Hoang, Nguyen Van Hai and Lam Van Tuan were sentenced to life in prison.
Other members received sentences ranging from one-year probation to 30 years in jail.
Investigators said the gang’s crimes, which included both home invasions and street attacks, were planned in advance and carried out mostly at night. (Sources: Thanhniennews.com, 28/04/2009)