MURDER WITH CYANIDE, EASY TO PERFORM – DIFFICULT TO SHIRK LIABILITIES

Recently, Vietnamese public is constantly confused with a series of murders using cyanide in Dong Nai, or even carrying poison and committing crimes in Bangkok (Thailand). Cyanide is a powerful poison that can cause rapid death in just a small amount. Although purchasing and carrying out murder with cyanide is not too difficult, it is difficult for criminals to avoid legal punishment.

Cyanide is an extremely toxic substance that is managed according to a special process, but is commonly used in production

Cyanide (cyanide) is an extremely toxic substance, capable of causing great harm to the environment and human health. Hydrocyanic acid and its soluble cyanide salts can kill a person with an amount from 50 mg.

Metal salts of hydrocyanic acid play a huge role and are commonly used in many industries:

– Industry of plating of gold, silver, copper or other metals.

– Industry of mining industry – extracting gold by cyanidation method.

– Industry of production of colored pigments for the paint, drawing powder, and textile dyeing industries requires cyanide salts as raw materials.

– Industry of pesticide production: calcium cyanide to kill bed bugs and insects in houses.

In medicine, hydrocyanic acid is used in salt form such as Hg(CN)2 or in combination form such as cherry juice at a rate of 1% HCN.

Law regulations of Vietnam on technological processes for destroying or reusing cyanide in Decision 1971/1999/QD-BKHCNMT on technological processes for destroying or reusing cyanide issued by the Minister of Science and Technology and Environment promulgated on November 10, 1999. However, buying and selling Cyanide on the dark market is very difficult to control.

Cyanide has been a criminal tool in many serious cases around the world

In fact, the use of Cyanide for the purpose of poisoning and even killing people is not too strange.

The world has witnessed a series of horrifying murders using cyanide, typically the case of “The Iceman” in the US, the Thai woman who murdered 14 people from 2015 to 2023, or a daughter-in-law in India murdered 6 in-laws from 2002 to 2016.

In Vietnam, the case of a female ‘assassin’ who killed 13 people with cyanide poison since 1998 also caused a stir for a long time. Or most recently, the case in Dong Nai and the case of 6 Vietnamese people dying in Bangkok (Thailand).

Although the crime details are difficult to be detected, all of the above cases have been discovered, investigated and handled by competent authorities.

Murder with cyanide, the person who commits the act may be criminally responsible for murder

Based on the nature and seriousity of danger to society of the crime, the offender’s identity, and mitigating and aggravating circumstances, the Court will decide on the penalty in each specific case.

Penalties for murder, imprisonment sentences corresponding to the level of crime in increasing levels, based on Article 123 of the 2015 Penal Code: (i) from 01 year to 05 years; (ii) from 07 years to 15 years; (iii) from 12 to 20 years, life imprisonment or death penalty.

In addition, the offender might be forbidden from practicing his/her profession or doing certain jobs for 01 – 05 years, face mandatory supervision or prohibition from residence for 01 – 05 years.

Illegal buying and selling of Cyanide can also be criminally prosecuted

As a chemical on the List of chemicals with conditional production and trading in the industrial sector of Appendix I attached to Decree No. 113/2017/ND-CP, the purchase, sale and trading of Cyanide can only be implemented after being granted a Certificate of eligibility by a competent authority according to prescribed procedures.

The act of illegally buying and selling cyanide can face penalties in Article 311 of the 2015 Penal Code (amended and supplemented by the Law amending the Penal Code 2017) on the crime of production, storage, and transportation , illegally using or trading inflammable substances or toxic substances.

Accordingly, the imprisonment sentence is applied for a minimum of 01 year and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. In addition, the offender may also be fined from 5,000,000 VND to 50,000,000 VND, placed on probation or banned from residence for 01 to 05 years.

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