Hanoi - Police in Vietnam have arrested a 13-year-old boy accused of murdering and robbing an 81-year-old woman for money to play online games, a police official said Tuesday.
Dinh The Dan was arrested on Sunday at his home in Nam Dinh province, 80 kilometres south of Hanoi, according to local policeman Nguyen Duy Duong.
Police say Dan strangled Mai Thi Mau, 81, with a piece of rope and took 100 000 dong (about R50) from her before burying her in a pile of sand in front of his house on November 10.
"Dan confessed that he needed money to play online games and decided to kill and rob the woman," Duong said.
"He is too young to be put in prison for the crime he committed, but we will send him to a re-education camp, which may release him after he shows enough good behaviour," Duong said.
In November last year, Vietnamese police arrested a 15-year-old boy accused of extorting money to play online games.
Trinh Dinh Thanh, of northern Vinh Phuc province, was arrested after he allegedly demanded about $300 from a local businessman, threatening to splash sulfuric acid on the face of the man's 12-year-old daughter if he refused to pay.
Online gaming is wildly popular in Vietnam, with internet cafes typically packed with teenagers after school and late into the night.
The craze has prompted concern among parents and authorities - Vietnamese media even reported that one young boy died after sitting at a computer for three days straight, though any such death could not be confirmed by police.
Internet cafes have been instructed to limit the time that young people spend on computer games, but the rules have proved difficult to enforce. -
Sapa-DPA