On the afternoon of 23/9, Binh (55) was sentenced by the People's Court of District 7, Ho Chi Minh City to seven years for illegal trading of military weapons and five years for illegal possession of narcotics. The sentences will run consecutively, totaling 12 years.

In connection with the case, Nguyen Tuan An (42, from Hung Yen) received six years for illegal trading of military weapons. Chu Van Hoang Anh (35) received three years; Huynh Hoang Vu (53, Vu "Meo") received one year for illegal possession of military weapons; and Lai Nam Phuong was sentenced to three years and six months for failure to report a crime and gambling.

Ten other individuals received sentences ranging from nine months to eight years for gambling, organizing gambling, and fraud.

Defendant Nguyen Duc Binh listens to the verdict. Photo: Hai Duyen

Defendant Nguyen Duc Binh listens to the verdict. Photo: Hai Duyen

In his final statement, Binh acknowledged the court's charges were accurate and pleaded for leniency.

During questioning, Binh admitted to committing the crimes after his release from prison in April of last year and confessed to a fascination with firearms since his teens.

"How old are you now?", the judge inquired. Binh replied, "55".

The judge continued: "At 55, you should move on from this obsession with firearms. You're facing imprisonment again; how long do you intend to stay behind bars?" Binh remained silent.

Responding to the procuracy, Binh explained that while at a goat meat restaurant in District 12 where Hoang Anh worked, Vu "Meo" brought him a firearm. Binh tested the weapon by loading it before handing it to Hoang Anh for safekeeping.

When the prosecutor questioned Binh about the seizure of seven phones, he claimed to have no memory due to depression. However, he admitted to using an iPhone 15 to communicate about purchasing firearms.

Similarly, the other defendants confessed to their crimes during questioning.

Defendant Nguyen Duc Binh (right) with accomplices in court. Photo: Hai Duyen

Defendant Nguyen Duc Binh (right) with accomplices in court. Photo: Hai Duyen

The verdict identified Binh "Kiem" as the mastermind behind three incidents of buying, selling, transporting, and possessing military weapons between April and October 2024.

Shortly after his release from prison, Binh plotted to acquire firearms and ammunition to kidnap singers and models, coerce them into sexual acts, and film the encounters. The videos would be sent to an accomplice in the US for distribution on pornographic websites to generate profit. To execute this plan, Binh contacted various sources to procure weapons and ammunition.

The gangster met Phuong and Vu "Meo" in Chi Hoa prison. In early July 2024, after Binh's release, Vu, upon hearing Binh's desire for Western European firearms, gifted him a Beretta pistol and 13 rounds of ammunition. The following day, at Chu Van Hoang Anh's goat hotpot restaurant, Vu handed the firearm to Binh, who examined it and then gave it to Hoang Anh to hide. After the restaurant closed, Hoang Anh buried the firearm and ammunition in his father's garden in Lam Dong.

Around August 2024, through Nguyen Tuan An, Binh ordered more weapons from Laos. An subsequently arranged the purchase of an AK-47, four magazines, 250 pistol rounds, and 242 AK-47 rounds for 227 million VND. The weapons were seized by Laotian authorities on 29/9/2024 before they could be transported to Vietnam, and later transferred to the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security.

Binh also transferred 20 million VND to Tran Dinh Thien in Vung Tau to purchase military weapons. Thien then asked Le Minh Nghia to make the purchase, but Nghia absconded with 21.3 million VND.

In late September and early October 2024, the Criminal Police Department (C02, Ministry of Public Security) apprehended Binh "Kiem's" gang in Ho Chi Minh City and various other locations, thwarting their scheme.

Records show that in 2005, Binh "Kiem" purchased an AK-47, five handguns, over 400 rounds of ammunition, and two grenades to kidnap the son of tycoon Tram Be and extort 10 million USD.

Two years later, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Court sentenced Binh to 28 years in prison for kidnapping for ransom, manufacturing, possessing, transporting, using, and illegally trading in military weapons.

In 2010, the People's Court of Go Vap district (now District 7 People's Court) sentenced him to three years and six months for intentional injury. His combined sentence was 30 years. He completed his sentence on 7/4/2024.

Hai Duyen