A man from the south-central Vietnamese province of Phu Yen has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for setting a house on fire, causing severe injuries to four people.

The provincial People’s Court on Wednesday conducted the trial of Tran Van Phuc, 45, who resides in Xuan Canh Commune, Song Cau Town.

Phuc was condemned to 20 years in jail for murder and five years behind bars for vandalism.

He was also mandated to pay the victims more than VND2 billion (US$88,000) in compensation.

Phuc was under the influence of alcohol at around 2:30 am on September 21, 2020 when he decided to burn down a house owned by his neighbor, 41-year-old Nguyen Huu Vinh, due to a longstanding conflict, according to the indictment.

He then headed to Vinh’s home, broke the window, poured gasoline inside, and set the home ablaze.

Vinh, his 34-year-old wife, and their two children aged four and six were sleeping at the time.

Phuc locked the door from the outside to prevent the victims from escaping.

Vinh eventually managed to kick the door open and the four family members escaped with serious burns.

They were taken to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment and later transferred to major hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City.

The fire also caused property damage worth VND84 million ($3,700).

Phuc ran away on his motorbike following the crime and was arrested at a relative’s house in south-central Binh Dinh Province two days later.

Prior to the incident, Phuc had been sentenced to five years and six months in prison for assault in December 2009.

He was granted amnesty on August 30, 2010.

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