The Supreme People's Court in the northern province of Quang Ninh onJune 19 refused to revoke death sentences given to 29 people involved inthe biggest drug trafficking case in Vietnam.
The findings followed a four-day appellate trial.
One of the appellants had his death sentence reduced to a life sentence.
Thetrial was presented with evidence of 5,000 cakes of heroin weighing atotal of 1,750 kilos - plus thousands of methamphetamine pills.
Ofa total of 89 defendants at the preliminary hearing held in January,the provincial People's Court handed down the death penalty to 30 of thetraffickers, gave life imprisonment to 13 - and up to 20 years in jailfor many others.
They were charged with drug trafficking, forgingdocuments and hiding military weapons. They were also convicted ofdoing illegal business, not denouncing criminals, bribing and beinginvolved in bribery.
Of the 89 defendants, 40 appealed for areduction in their sentences, one requested a review of his charges, andanother continued to plead his innocence.
At the June 19 hearing, Nong Van Len had his sentence reduce from death to life imprisonment.
The court retained life imprisonment handed down to four defendants and from four to 20 years in jail for another four.
Thecrimes were discovered late last year. Police said it involved atrafficking ring set up in Vietnam and involving Laos and China.-VNA
The findings followed a four-day appellate trial.
One of the appellants had his death sentence reduced to a life sentence.
Thetrial was presented with evidence of 5,000 cakes of heroin weighing atotal of 1,750 kilos - plus thousands of methamphetamine pills.
Ofa total of 89 defendants at the preliminary hearing held in January,the provincial People's Court handed down the death penalty to 30 of thetraffickers, gave life imprisonment to 13 - and up to 20 years in jailfor many others.
They were charged with drug trafficking, forgingdocuments and hiding military weapons. They were also convicted ofdoing illegal business, not denouncing criminals, bribing and beinginvolved in bribery.
Of the 89 defendants, 40 appealed for areduction in their sentences, one requested a review of his charges, andanother continued to plead his innocence.
At the June 19 hearing, Nong Van Len had his sentence reduce from death to life imprisonment.
The court retained life imprisonment handed down to four defendants and from four to 20 years in jail for another four.
Thecrimes were discovered late last year. Police said it involved atrafficking ring set up in Vietnam and involving Laos and China.-VNA
