Life imprisonment for leader of Dien Bien bandits
The People’s Court of the northern province of Dien Bien on April 4 sentenced Giang A Tinh to life imprisonment for conducting banditry in Muong Nhe district, in accordance with Article 83 of the Penal Code.
Tinh, or Giang Pa Tinh, was born in 1968 and resides in Pa My commune, Muong Nhe district. He was among seven others accused of leading, organising and directly using weapons in attacks against officials. The other accused were given sentences ranging from 15 to 20 years behind bars.
They were also ordered to compensate VND138 million (US$6,480) to the family of a soldier they shot to death and provide a monthly allowance of VND300,000 to support the two children of the deceased until they turn 18 years old.
The court also condemned 21 other accomplices, accused of seeking and transporting weapons to serve banditry activities, to sentences from 16 months to eight years in jail.
According to the indictment, a shooting spree took place on October 15, 2012 towards soldiers on duty in Sen Thuong commune in Muong Nhe district, killing one border guard officer and injuring four policemen.