Nguyễn Đức Trung at the trial. On the afternoon of August 14, 2023, Trung kidnapped a child to threaten the family and demand ransom. — Photo vtc.vn

HÀ NỘI — The Hà Nội People's Court conducted a trial yesterday, sentencing Nguyễn Đức Trung, 31, former Captain of the Traffic Police Department in Vĩnh Phúc Province, to 20 years in prison for the crime of "Kidnapping for Property Seizure".

Trung kidnapped a 7-year-old boy in the Việt Hưng urban area in Long Biên, Hà Nội and demanded ransom from the boy's family.

In his testimony, Trung confessed that in 2019, he was under huge debt and that led him to look for rich households and steal their properties, intending to sell them to repay his debts.

On July 4, 2023, Trung rented a car and acquired a ZORAKI M906-TD 9mm rubber bullet gun for intimidation.

Trung then targeted the Việt Hưng and Vinhomes urban areas for property theft, but encountered no susceptible houses.

On the afternoon of August 14, 2023, Trung decided to kidnap a child to threaten the family and demand ransom. To carry out the kidnapping, Trung purchased a large roll of adhesive tape, a pair of gloves and two elastic cords which he stored in the car.

Trung drove the car to the Việt Hưng urban area, where he saw 7-year-old Nguyễn Hoàng P riding a bicycle alone. Trung forced the child onto the car and used the cord to tie his hands, placing the child in the front passenger seat.

The kidnapper then called P's mother, demanding VNĐ15 billion (US$618,000) in ransom. As the family could only prepare over VNĐ13 billion (US$535,000), Trung agreed to accept this amount. When P's mother handed the money to Trung, the police arrested the suspect along with the evidence.

The trial panel determined that Nguyễn Đức Trung's actions violated the life and property of the child P and his family, causing panic for society, and thus sentenced him to 20 years in prison, in accordance with Article 169, Paragraph 4, Point a) of the Criminal Code. — VNS