Vu Thi Hong, 52, residing in Lien Hoa ward, has been sentenced to 12 years and six months in prison for property destruction under Article 178 of the Criminal Code. The Quang Ninh Provincial Police announced the verdict on 19/3.

The incident stemmed from a prolonged dispute over a shared right-of-way between Hong and her neighbor, Pham Van Vi. In the early morning of 27/1/2025, Hong brought machine oil to a vacant lot in Vi Khe village, Lien Vi commune (now part of Lien Hoa ward), where her neighbors' vehicles were parked.

Defendant Hong at the trial. Photo: Xuan Hoa.

With no one present and flammable materials nearby, the fire quickly erupted, consuming one oto and three excavators. These vehicles belonged to Vu Huy Song, Pham Van Vi, and Vu Van Ba.

Authorities determined that all the damaged assets were beyond repair. The total value of the damage amounted to 1.28 billion VND.

During the trial, Hong admitted to all criminal acts and expressed remorse for her momentary loss of control, which led to severe consequences.

The trial panel concluded that the defendant's actions posed a significant danger to society. It not only directly infringed upon citizens' property rights but also disrupted local security and order.

Le Tan