VIETNAM. APPEAL COURT UPHOLDS DEATH SENTENCES ON VIETNAM'S LARGEST DRUG CASE

an appeal court in the Vietnamese midland province of Phu Tho upheld death sentences to six defendants and life sentences to eight others in Vietnam's largest drug case, which involved 22 defendants and almost a tonne of heroin. Chief judge Nguyen Dat Ton turned down appeals filed by eight of the defendants for the commutation of their sentences, which were handed down by a Phu Tho province court on July 27, 2005. Other sentences made by the original court ranged from 15 years to 20 years in jail. In addition, the appeal court also gave a verdict that each defendant sentenced to death would have to pay 100 million VND in fines, and those sentenced to life imprisonment to pay 80 million VND each. The defendants were found guilty of trafficking 2,882 cakes of heroin, 800 grammes of opium and 400 methamphetamine pills into Vietnam from Laos.