VIETNAM: TWO WOMEN GET DEATH, EX-COPS JAIL IN DRUG SCANDAL

Two women leaders of a drug dealing ring in Hanoi, Vietnam, were sentenced to death in a case that also saw six former police officers of the capital city get prison terms.
The Hanoi People’s Court handed down the death sentence to Tran Thi Thuan and Tran Thi Hieu, both of Hanoi, while the former policy officers of the drug squad were sentenced from three to 17 years in prison for protecting the ring members.
The former police officers found guilty of “accepting bribes” were among 23 people convicted by the Hanoi People’s Court for their roles in the drug scandal ten years ago.
Another woman and two men belonging to the 17-member ring received life imprisonment, while 12 other members of the ring were sentenced from 15 to 20 years in prison. The ring was charged with “trafficking and storing drugs”.
Ten years ago, the group set up a “drug market” in Hanoi’s Thanh Nhan Ward and sold more than 10 kilograms of the heroin.
Pham Dinh Tieng, the policeman in charge of investigating the case, was sentenced to 17 years’ imprisonment.