A man from northern Vietnam was arrested after stealing his uncle’s remains in a bid to extort five billion Vietnamese dong (over P11 million) from his relatives to pay off his gambling debt.
Luu Thanh Nam, 37, from Thanh Hoa province, dug a 20cm hole in his uncle’s grave and removed some bones, which he hid nearby, according to a report by the South China Morning Post. The remains belonged to his cousin Luu Thanh Hoi’s father, who passed away four years ago.
Nam then sent an anonymous message to Hoi’s wife, threatening that the bones would not be returned unless the family paid the ransom. He also warned them not to involve the police.
Hoi and his wife visited the grave and found the coffin cap damaged, prompting them to report the incident to the authorities. After an investigation, Nam was identified and confessed to the crime, citing his “overwhelming gambling debts.”
Nam was arrested on September 12 and now faces charges of grave desecration and extortion. He could face up to eight years of hard labor or three years in prison. The stolen remains were recovered and reburied by the family, who expressed hopes of “restoring peace to the spirit.”