'Passion' for guns, the whole group went to jail

The defendants heard the verdict.

When effective, Triet sold it to Tran Van Duong (born in 1997, residing in Binh Khanh ward, Long Xuyen city). Nguyen Minh Tan (born in 2001, residing in Binh Duc ward); Tran Van Thanh Toan (born in 2000) and Nguyen Minh Tai (born in 1994, residing in An Chau town, Chau Thanh district) also participated in the crime.

On September 18, 2024, the Investigation Police Agency of Long Xuyen City Police urgently searched Triet's residence and seized 2 guns. Including 1 complete gun, 1 model gun, 11 metal bullet casings, 8 plastic bullet casings, 7 bullets, 4 artillery rounds and some other related objects. Triet confessed to successfully selling 4 guns to 3 subjects; repairing 1 gun for Toan. The authorities quickly urgently searched the residence of Toan and Tran Van Thanh Phat (born in 1976, both residing in My Long ward), seizing 1 revolver (no number) and 12 bullets.

At the same time, an emergency search was conducted at the residence of Duong, Tan, and Tai, seizing 1 revolver and 6 bullets. On September 21, 2024, the Investigation Police Agency of Long Xuyen City Police transferred the case file, evidence, and related subjects to the Investigation Security Agency of the Provincial Police. Based on the investigation results, on September 30, 2024, Triet, Toan, Duong, Tai, and Tan were prosecuted for "Illegal possession of military weapons". After that, Triet continued to be prosecuted for "Illegal manufacture, use, and trading of military weapons", Toan for "Illegal use of military weapons". At the same time, the prosecution against Duong was changed to "Illegal trading of military weapons".

The defendants' criminal acts were clarified. Around mid-2023, Triet bought a model gun (Sky, ZP5) and bullet casings online for 750,000 VND. After watching a video clip of "modifying" the gun (from a gun that shoots plastic bullets to a gun that shoots lead bullets), Triet continued to buy components on Facebook and assembled it into a complete gun. After finishing making the gun and bullets, Triet brought the gun to the back of Duong's house and fired 2 bullets, only 1 exploded; he fired many times in his bedroom.

Triet used, sold or gave away the above guns. Specifically, Triet brought a revolver and 6 bullets to sell to Duong for 1 million VND. Duong sold the gun to Tai for 2 million VND. Afraid of being discovered, Tai brought the "goods" to Tan to hide. Triet also brought an unfinished gun to sell to Duong for 1.5 million VND. After a test shot, it failed to go off, so Duong returned it to Triet.

In addition, the investigation also determined that around mid-2021, Toan joined a gun buying and selling group on Facebook, buying a ZP-5 gun, 6 bullets (priced at 5.5 million VND). Then, Toan brought the gun to the Wild Field area (My Phuoc ward) to test fire. The gun was broken, so Toan brought it home to hide. About 5 days later, Toan ordered 12 more bullets (priced at 385,000 VND). On September 14, 2024, Toan brought the gun to Triet's house to ask him to fix it, then brought it home to hide it. On September 18, 2024, knowing that the police were checking Triet's house, Toan brought the gun and 12 bullets to Phat's house to hide the gun, but Phat did not know.

Considering that the defendants' actions violated the law, but were not serious, and their attitudes were sincere, the Provincial People's Court sentenced Triet to 2 years and 9 months in prison; Duong and Toan each received 21 months in prison; Tai and Tan each received 18 months in prison, suspended.

NGUYEN HUNG

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/dam-me-sung-ca-nhom-ngoi-tu-a420561.html