On 22/1, the People's Court of Ca Mau Province sentenced Phat to 16 years in prison for murder and property robbery.

Ma Tan Phat at court today. Photo: An Minh

According to the indictment, Phat, needing money for personal expenses and to repay debts, decided to steal property from his 75-year-old grandmother, who lived with him. Around 9:50 a.m. on 16/4/2025, while his grandmother was sewing clothes alone in the house, Phat snuck into her room and stole a mobile phone. He then used a wooden stick to repeatedly strike her head, causing her to collapse.

Phat removed the jewelry from his grandmother, then washed his hands and disposed of the blood-stained weapon. He then drove a motorbike to a jewelry store in Tan Thanh ward, selling the gold for nearly 37 million dong.

Afterwards, Phat bought food and visited his girlfriend at the hospital, discarding the stolen phone en route. He then went to a friend's house, entrusting 35 million dong to them and providing additional cash to settle debts and an iCloud rental fee.

Around 10:25 a.m. the same day, Phat's younger sister returned from school and found their grandmother in critical condition with severe head injuries, prompting her to call for neighbors' help. The family rushed the victim to Ca Mau Provincial General Hospital for emergency treatment, before she was transferred to Can Tho Central General Hospital, where she received treatment for 28% injuries.

Throughout the investigation and during the trial, Phat confessed honestly and expressed remorse. The victim also submitted a petition requesting a reduced sentence for the defendant.

An Minh