Pasay: 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 August 18, the CA "dismissed for lack of merit" the appeal filed by Nguyen Chi Trung, 30, and Phan Minh Viet, 32.

According to Philippines News Agency, the two men were charged with the kidnap for ransom of their compatriot Nguyen Thi Ben Van, also known as "Miss Ann." They detained her at two different safehouses on orders from their Chinese bosses for a total of 18 days in November 2022. The victim had left a hotpot restaurant at the Aseana Business Park near the corner of Macapagal Boulevard and Aseana Avenue in Para±aque City on October 29, 2022, to meet someone at a bar and did not return.

At around 9 p.m. on the same day, the victim's boyfriend received messages and a video of the victim being beaten by the alleged kidnappers through Telegram. They demanded PHP50 million in exchange for her safe release. During negotiations, the ransom was reduced and transferred in two tranches to a bank account provided by the suspects for the victim's release. The victim was later abandoned by her captors at Blue Mountain, Sumulong Highway, Antipolo City, where she was rescued.

A follow-up operation was conducted by authorities on November 17, 2022, resulting in the arrest of Viet at around 7 p.m. in his condominium at La Verti Residences, Pasay City. Trung was arrested the following day at around 3:30 p.m. at a karaoke bar in Barangay Tambo, Para±aque 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.