Kim Jin, 31, was sentenced to life imprisonment, while Kang Yo Han, 30, received 20 years in prison, both for murder charge. — Photo from the police

HCM CITY — The People’s Court of HCM City on Friday sentenced two South Korean nationals to prison for their involvement in a fatal assault at a restaurant which resulted in the death of another fellow South Korean in December 2024.

Kim Jin, born in 1995, was sentenced to life imprisonment, while Kang Yo Han, born in 1996, received 20 years in prison. Both were convicted of murder.

The court also ordered the two defendants to jointly pay more than VNĐ8 billion (about US$307,000) in compensation to the two victims.

According to the indictment, at around 12.40am on December 28, 2024, South Korean national Lee Chang Dae and two friends went to Rabbit restaurant in Cầu Ông Lãnh Ward, HCM City, for some drinks and karaoke.

At about 2.30am, Lee left the room. When he returned, he accidentally hit an LED screen, prompting restaurant staff to ask him to pay for the damage. An argument then broke out.

Lee Chang Dae’s friend, Yu Seung Hoon, also a South Korean national, allegedly shouted at restaurant employees and slapped and struck some of them on the head.

The employees ran downstairs and reported the incident to restaurant owner Lee Seung Ho and manager Lee Suk Min, both also South Korean nationals.

The owner and manager subsequently went upstairs to resolve the dispute, but a physical altercation broke out between the two sides.

Lee Seung Ho ordered Lee Chang Dae and his two friends to kneel on the floor. As some property in the room had been damaged, he also instructed staff to take the group’s mobile phones and personal belongings and keep them at the reception desk as security for compensation.

At the time, Kim Jin was drinking with Kang Yo Han on Bùi Viện walking street. After being told that their friends had been assaulted, Jin asked Han to accompany him to Rabbit restaurant.

When they arrived, Kim Jin entered the restaurant and attacked Lee Suk Min, while Kang Yo Han fought with Lee Seung Ho.

During the confrontation, Kang Yo Han used a rubber baton, while Kim Jin grabbed a nitrous oxide canister and repeatedly struck Lee Seung Ho on the head, causing him to collapse.

Although Lee Seung Ho was taken to hospital for emergency treatment, he later died from severe injuries, including traumatic brain injury.

Lee Suk Min suffered injuries assessed at 87 per cent permanent bodily impairment, according to the case file.

At trial, both defendants admitted their actions as charged and asked the court for leniency under Vietnamese law.

The trial panel said the evidence examined at the hearing and the developments during questioning and arguments established that the defendants had committed the offences as charged.

Their conduct was considered particularly serious, directly infringing upon the victims’ right to life, the court said. — VNS