In a shocking incident in Thanh Hoa province, northern Vietnam, a 37-year-old man named Luu Thanh Nam has been arrested for exhuming his uncle’s remains in a disturbing attempt to settle his gambling debts. Nam allegedly demanded 5 billion Vietnamese dong (approximately £167,000) from his family to repay these debts.
Grave Digging and Threats
Equipped with a shovel, Nam dug a 20cm hole in his uncle’s grave, removing a portion of the remains. He concealed the bones in a nearby rubbish pile and sent an anonymous message to his uncle’s wife, threatening not to return the remains unless the ransom was paid. He warned the family against contacting authorities, claiming they would lose the remains permanently.
Family’s Alarm and Police Action
Alarmed by the threats, the family inspected the grave and discovered the damage. Upon finding the coffin cap broken, they promptly alerted local authorities. A swift investigation led to Nam’s identification as the perpetrator. Faced with overwhelming gambling debts, he confessed to the crime. Police recovered the stolen bones and returned them to the family for proper reinterment according to local customs.
Legal Consequences and Cultural Implications
On September 12, Nam was formally arrested on charges of grave desecration and extortion. In Vietnam, grave desecration can result in a prison sentence of up to seven years, while extortion could carry penalties of up to 20 years, depending on the crime’s severity. Disturbing a grave is considered deeply disrespectful in Vietnamese culture, believed to disrupt the peace of the deceased and bring misfortune to the living. After recovering the remains, Hoi, Nam’s uncle, reburied his father by traditional customs, seeking to restore peace to his spirit.