In a shocking case from northern Vietnam’s Thanh Hoa province, 37-year-old Luu Thanh Nam was arrested for stealing bones from his uncle’s grave and attempting to extort money from his family. The man reportedly demanded 5 billion Vietnamese dong (£167,000) from his extended family to repay gambling debts.
The incident, which occurred on 9 September, was reported by the South China Morning Post. Nam’s uncle, who had died four years prior, was the father of his cousin, Luu Thanh Hoi.
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Grave desecration and threats
Armed with a shovel, Nam dug a 20cm hole in his uncle’s grave and removed a portion of the remains. He then hid the bones in a nearby rubbish pile before sending an anonymous message to Hoi’s wife, threatening never to return the remains unless the family paid the ransom. In a chilling warning, Nam also cautioned the family against involving the authorities, claiming they would lose the remains forever if they did so.
Alarmed by the threats, the family checked the grave and discovered the disturbance. Upon finding the coffin cap damaged, they immediately contacted the local authorities.
Swift police action
Following a swift investigation, the police identified Nam as the culprit. Overwhelmed by gambling debts, he confessed to the crime. Authorities recovered the stolen bones and returned them to the family, allowing them to reinter the remains according to local customs.
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On 12 September, Nam was formally arrested on charges of grave desecration and extortion. In Vietnam, desecration of graves can lead to a prison sentence of up to seven years, while extortion charges could carry a penalty of up to 20 years, depending on the severity of the crime.
Disrespecting tradition
In Vietnamese culture, disturbing a grave is seen as deeply disrespectful, as it is believed to disrupt the peace of the deceased’s soul and bring misfortune to the living. After recovering the remains, Hoi reburied his father in line with traditional customs, hoping to restore peace to his spirit.
