Hanoi (VNA) – Five people convicted in a case of disturbance thatsaw three police officers burnt to death in Dong Tam commune, Hanoi’s outskirtdistrict of My Duc lodged appeals to the People’s Court of Hanoi, asking forclemency and penalty reduction.

They are Le Dinh Cong, Le Dinh Chuc, Le Dinh Doanh, Bui VietHieu and Nguyen Quoc Tien.

On September 14, the Hanoi People’s Courtsentenced Le Dinh Cong and Le Dinh Chuc to death while Le Dinh Doanh was givenlife behind bars.

Bui Viet Hieu and Nguyen Quoc Tien received sentences of 16 years and 13 years in prison, respectively.

All were charged with “murder” pursuant to Clause 1,Article 123 of the 2015 Penal Code.

Besides those people, Nguyen Van Tuyen also got 12-year imprisonment for the same charge.

The remaining 23 were given sentences from 15months’ probation to six years in prison for “resisting on-duty officers”pursuant to Clause 2, Article 330 of the 2015 Penal Code. Of whom, 14 receivedsuspended sentences and were freed after the hearing.

The first instance conclusion shows that this was anextremely serious case, with the defendants’ criminal deeds extremely dangerousfor society, running counter to the law, disregarding the State’s principles,infringing upon the State and local authorities’ right activities, anddisplaying contempt for the lives and health of others, especially those onduty.

Their deeds were extremely brutal and inhumane, usingpetrol to burn the three policemen when they fell into a pit between Chuc’shouse and his neighbour, making their bodies unidentifiable.

The jury said this was a huge loss for the publicsecurity force as well as the families of the three policemen. The case causedoutrage among people in Hanoi in particular and in Vietnam at large, requiringstrict sentences for the defendants.

The six defendants accused of “murder” were themasterminds of the crime and they also led and directly committed criminalacts. They had closely colluded with others who were key members of a so-called“group of consensus” led by Le Dinh Kinh. Kinh was shot dead while holding agrenade and calling on others to resist on-duty officers.

Cong was the leader and often incited others to killpolice officers by posting video clips and livestreaming on social networks. Healso threatened to bomb power stations and kill 300-500 police officers,assigned tasks to other defendants, and actively performed these acts.

He also directed and contributed money to buy petrol andgrenades, guided others how to make petrol bombs and tinder, and directly threwpetrol bombs and grenades toward on-duty officers.

Considering thatthe consequences of Cong’s actions are particularly serious, the jury said itis necessary to apply the most severe punishment against him, to ensure thestrictness of the law, general deterrence, education, and prevention.

On late January8 and early January 9, when informed of the appearance of on-duty officers inHoanh village, Le Dinh Chuc and other defendants brought weapons to the rooftopof a neighbouring house. They threw four petrol bombs and one grenade at thepolice, and used hand-made weapons to attack the officers, causing three ofthem to fall into a pit near Kinh’s house. Chuc and Doanh repeatedly pouredpetrol into the pit and set it on fire, killing the three policemen.

Bui Viet Hieuand Nguyen Van Tuyen, driven by greed for land, incited others to commitcrimes. As the death of the policemen was associated with their behaviour, theymust be punished strictly, the jury said, adding that there were alsomitigating circumstances, as Hieu committed the crime when he was over 70 yearsold and Tuyen is a person with disabilities.

Nguyen Quoc Tienwas confirmed to have participated in the case right from the beginning andactively contributed money to buy petrol and grenades. He made petrol bombs andpurchased 10 grenades with the aim of killing policemen with his accomplices.Though the grenades he had bought did not explode, he clearly believed theywere real and would cause death and severe injuries./.