Men sentenced to death for killing Vietnam official

Apr 6, 2011, 13:41 GMT

Hanoi - Two men were sentenced to death by a Ho Chi Minh City court over an attack that left a Communist Party official dead and two women seriously injured, local media reported Wednesday.

Nguyen Trong Nhan, 31, and Luong Hoai Sang, 21, were also given jail terms for robbery and ordered to pay compensation to their victims.

Nhan, described as the mastermind in the case, admitted attacking Dang Thu Hong with a tennis racket and a knife in October, the Tuoi Tre newspaper reported.

Hong was the head of a district committee for the Communist Party in Ho Chi Minh City. She was stabbed 24 times, according to the indictment.

The victim was killed during a robbery at the home of Ngo Thi My, 52, head of the district's environment department. Hong happened to drop by during the attack. Both My and her 25-year-old daughter sustained serious injuries.

Under the indictment, Nhan was accused of going to My's house to rob her and of injuring My's daughter when she tried to help her mother. He denied the charge, saying he intended to urge My not to sack his wife. Sang said he went with Nhan to 'support' him.

When soldiers from local headquarters opposite My's house arrived at the scene, Nhan threatened them, saying he would kill anyone who approached him, the newspaper said.

Nhan only surrendered when armed police showed up at the house.

Authorities do not issue statistics on how many people are executed each year, which is considered a state secret. However, according to state media reports there were 80 death sentences passed in 2010 and four executions.

Most death sentences in Vietnam are handed down in drug trafficking and murder cases.

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