VN News [19 June] Vietnam Sentences Woman to Death

["Toan" <toan@usa.net>]

>From AP source:

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Vietnam Sentences Woman to Death 

Thursday, June 19, 1997; 3:25 a.m. EDT 


HANOI, Vietnam (AP) -- A woman who confessed to selling heroin for a living
was sentenced to die before a firing squad in northern Vietnam, official
media reported Thursday. 

Luu Thi Nga was convicted during a one-day court hearing Wednesday after
she admitted to selling more than 1.8 kilograms (3.9 pounds) of heroin to
34 people during the last four weeks, the Communist Party newspaper, The
People, reported. 

The trial was held at the People's Court of Quang Ninh province, which
borders China along the South China Sea coast. 

News of the trial was only made public Thursday through Vietnam's tightly
controlled state-run media. 

Nga's sister and co-defendant, Luu Thi Hien, was convicted on similar
charges, but was sentenced to life in prison, The People reported. 

Police, acting on several tips from local residents, raided Nga's home in
September 1996 and found plastic bags containing heroin hidden on the
second floor. 

Three other people tried on related charges were sentenced to jail terms
ranging from 3 to 11 years. 



© Copyright 1997 The Associated Press

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