From The Australian
A dog thief in southern Vietnam has been sentenced to one year in jail for a crime usually only punished by fines or vigilante beatings.
A dog thief in southern Vietnam has been jailed for a crime usually only punished by fines. Source: AAP
The man was caught on July 18 with a sack containing six dogs he was found to have caught with a stun gun.
The combined value of the animals put him over the limit needed to face criminal charges.
“This is the first time in many years we’ve sentenced a dog thief to prison,” said Le Hong Nguyet, deputy chief judge of The People’s City Court in Ba Ria Vung Tau.
“He had the honesty to admit his crime. We hope the sentence will act as an example to help reduce dog thefts.”
Widespread dog theft has caused outrage in Vietnam, with owners angry that the thieves who take their animals to sell to restaurants and butchers face only administrative fines rather than full prosecution and jail.
Around 20 suspected dog thieves were beaten to death by villagers rather than handed to police last year, according to local media.
Dogs are kept in Vietnam both as pets and for food.
With most dogs selling for around $US35 ($A37.85), suspects usually face only fines, which apply to any theft of items worth less than 2 million dong ($A100).
Read the full story from The Australian.
