VietNamNet Bridge - A female tailor who last May threatened to set fire and poison to HCM City-based Gia Dinh People hospital if it failed to give her VND100 million (US$5,000) was sentenced to 4.5 years for acts of terrorism.

“Prepare to give me VND100 million or I will smoke bomb the hospital and cause dozens of people to be hospitalized for poisoning” is a message that Nguyen Thi Thu Thao, 29, from the southern province of Tay Ninh, sent to the hospital.

On March 31, the HCM City People’s Court tried the case and gave her 4.5 years in jail for acts of terrorism.

At the court, Thao admitted her guilt in tears.

According to the indictment, Thao sent a mobile phone message with content of defaming the State and threatening the hospital on the hospital’s hot line on May 21, 2010. The message was sent from the cell phone number 01225032495.

In the next three days, she delivered a lot of messages with threatening content, as follows.

“Prepare to give me VND100 million or I will make the hospital give off smoke and cause tens of people to be hospitalized for poisoning”.

“Tomorrow I will send a message informing you my bank account number for you to transfer the money. If you fail to give the money or report the case to police, I will cause hundreds, even thousands, of people, to be hospitalized for poisoning. Prepare the money for me…”

The messages worried many staffs of the Gia Dinh People Hospital.

Local police investigated and quickly identified Thao as the message sender. Thao was arrested at her residence, a hired room in Tan Binh District, HCM City.

Thao said she was not incited by anyone to do so and that she conducted such acts since she was suffering from depression and failure in her life.

At the court, she cried and asked for forgiveness.

The court judged that her acts were very dangerous, causing great anxiety to the hospital and seriously affecting the patient’s treatment plan. However, as she sincerely admitted her guilt and showed repentance, the court sentenced Thao 4.5 years in jail.

The judgment council hopes that those who use cell phones to threaten others will learn a leason through this case.

M. Phuong