On the afternoon of 8/7, Hoang Minh Duc received an 18-year prison sentence, and Duong Manh Hung received 20 years from the TP HCM People's Court for human trafficking and trafficking of persons under 16.
Five other defendants received sentences ranging from 4 to 6 years for organizing illegal exit.
According to the trial panel, the defendants' actions dangerously infringed upon human freedom and impacted immigration management. Despite their sincere confessions, remorse, and eligibility for some mitigating circumstances, the defendants faced severe penalties to deter similar crimes and ensure general prevention.
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The defendants in court today. Photo: Binh Nguyen. |
The indictment stated that Duc and Hung were hired by an individual named Suu (identity unknown) to recruit people for work in Cambodia, with a payment of 10 million dong per person recruited.
An individual in Duc's network, identifying as Huyen (identity unknown), later contacted a job placement company. Huyen claimed to be recruiting workers for plant care in Dong Nai, offering a salary of 7 million dong. Huyen informed the company that Duc and Hung would collect the individuals for work.
From 29/6/2022 to 4/7/2022, the company, trusting the arrangement, handed over 5 individuals to Duc and Hung for contract work. Among them were two minors, one 15 years and 6 months old, and another 14 years and 11 months old. Duc and Hung then transported these individuals to Cambodia, handing them over to Suu and receiving 50 million dong.
On 5/7/2022, Duc and Hung received two more individuals from the job placement company, delivering them to a group of Suu's accomplices for transport to the border area of Long An province (now Tay Ninh) for handover to Suu. However, as they neared the destination, one victim realized they were being taken to Cambodia. Objecting, the victim contacted the company to request rescue.
The company's management subsequently reported the incident to the police. TP HCM police, collaborating with local authorities, located and rescued the victims at the border area and apprehended the suspects.
Regarding the case, some individuals remain unidentified, prompting the investigative agency to separate their cases for later processing.
Binh Nguyen
