By Benjamin Pulta
MANILA – The Court of Appeals has affirmed the decision of the Pasay Regional Trial Court Branch 115 convicting two Vietnamese nationals for their involvement in the kidnapping for ransom of a Vietnamese woman three years ago.
In its 10-page decision dated Aug. 18, the CA “dismissed for lack of merit” the appeal filed by Nguyen Chi Trung, 30, and Phan Minh Viet, 32.
The two men were charged for the kidnap for ransom of their compatriot Nguyen Thi Ben Van, also known as “Miss Ann,” whom they detained at two different safehouses on orders of their Chinese bosses for a total of 18 days in November 2022.
On Oct. 29, 2022, the victim had left a hotpot restaurant at the Aseana Business Park near the corner of Macapagal Boulevard and Aseana Avenue in Parañaque City to meet someone in a bar and did not return.
At around 9 p.m. on the same day, the victim’s boyfriend received messages and video of the victim being beaten by the alleged kidnappers through Telegram and demanded PHP50 million from him in exchange for her safe release.
In the course of negotiation, the ransom was reduced and was transferred in two tranches to a bank account given by the suspects for the victim’s safe release.
The victim was then abandoned by her captors at Blue Mountain, Sumulong Highway, Antipolo City where she was rescued.
On Nov. 17, 2022, a follow-up operation was conducted authorities, resulting in the arrest of Viet at around 7 p.m. in his condominium at La Verti Residences, Pasay City, while Trung was arrested at around 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 18 at a karaoke bar in Barangay Tambo, Parañaque City.
The suspects were sentenced by the RTC to up to 40 years in prison.
“All told, the prosecution was able to establish beyond reasonable doubt that Trung and Viet participated in the commission of the crime. Accordingly, we find that the RTC did not err in convicting both of them for the crime of kidnapping for ransom,” the CA said. (PNA)
