Male student lost his future because of drugs

Throughout the trial at the People's Court of Thach Ha district (Ha Tinh), defendant Phan Tien Dung (30 years old) continuously shed tears, expressing remorse for violating the law. Meeting his relatives during the break and deliberation, he said that if only he had the courage and the ability to overcome all temptations, things would not be like this now.

12 years ago, Dung became a student at Hanoi National University with a score of 27, making his parents, neighbors and younger siblings in the village proud. At the age of 18, full of ambition and aspiration, Dung went to Hanoi to enroll in school with the determination that after graduating, he would find a stable job and have money to help his family.

However, after that, Dung often skipped school to go out. In less than a year, Dung returned home to work and became addicted to drugs after endless partying with bad friends.

To have money to buy drugs, Dung became a link in a synthetic drug trafficking ring in Ha Tinh. On January 9, he was arrested by Thach Ha District Police while transporting 0.43 grams of drugs.

In court, Dung folded his arms and bowed, explaining that because he was too addicted to playing, he had lost his future and caused his family to be criticized. "Fish that don't eat salt will rot, children who disobey their parents will go bad in a hundred ways. To me, this saying is very profound," the defendant stated in court.

Hearing his son speak, Dung's father had tears in his eyes. "My wife and I's future depends on him, but now we have to take care of ourselves in our old age. The mistake of Dung's shallow thinking during those days was too expensive," he said, hoping that when his son finishes his prison term, he will be determined to start a new life.

Having the last word, Dung said that no matter what sentence he received, he felt relieved. "My peers have grown up and have careers, but it's too late for me to regret now," the defendant said.

The court determined that Dung's actions were dangerous, but also needed to consider the sentencing so that he could return to rebuild his life, so he was sentenced to 15 months in prison for the crime of illegal drug trafficking and possession.