The People’s Court of Nhon Trach district in southern Dong Nai province on June 13 imprisoned Phan Van Giau and Thach Quy, who took advantage of the recent protests against China’s illegal actions in Vietnam’s waters to commit law violations.

Giau, 21, and Quy, 19, were sentenced to 6 months and 5 months in prison, respectively, for stealing property.

According to the indictment, on May 14, during workers’ rallies in protest against China’s illegal placement of an oil rig in Vietnam’s waters, the duo, who are workers at Minh An company in the Nhon Trach 3 industrial zone, broke into their company to burgle.

They stole five golf clubs, a pair of computer speakers and a watch totaling at 3.6 million VND (169 USD) in value.

In a related move, Dong Nai authorities have so far commenced legal proceedings against 253 arrestees involved in 26 criminal cases of “causing social disturbance”, “destroying property,” “stealing property,” “openly appropriating property,” and “resisting against on-duty officials”.-VNA