Heartbreaking story of a child abandoned by his mother and father in prison

During the trial of defendant Lo Van Duc (29 years old), residing in Huoi Tu commune, Ky Son district, for the crime of illegal drug trafficking, the image of a skinny child wearing only a short shirt kept appearing in the hallway of the courtroom of Nghe An Provincial People's Court, causing many people to sympathize.

The 7-year-old boy is the son of the defendant Duc. To give father and son a chance to meet after a long separation, Mrs. Ha Thi Tieu took her young nephew on a journey of more than 300 kilometers to Vinh City to attend the trial.

Throughout his father's trial, the young child stood in the hallway looking in. Photo: Tran Vu

Not allowed to attend the trial, he sat alone in the hallway of the courtroom. After playing, he would occasionally come to the door to look at his father. At a young age, he probably understood the situation. His eyes were sad, and when he got bored, he would go out to the steps and sit alone.

Asked if he missed his father? The boy replied: “I miss him so much. It’s been months since I’ve seen him.” Then the girl innocently asked: “When will my father come home?” Not wanting to make the boy sad, she just smiled.

Inside the courtroom, defendant Duc confessed to all his crimes. On February 24, Lo Van Duc drove a motorbike to Hua Phan province (Laos) to get drugs from a Lao man. A day later, Duc brought the drugs to the gate of Que Phong General Hospital to deliver to a customer and was arrested by the police. The evidence confiscated was 24 packages of drugs with a total weight of 452.64 grams of Methamphetamine.

Detained for nearly 3 months, on May 2, Duc denounced and changed his testimony, claiming that his wife, Luong Thi Phanh, was the one who directly contacted the Lao man by phone to ask to buy and bring drugs from Laos.

The police investigated Phanh and organized a confrontation between Luong Thi Phanh and Lo Van Duc, but Phanh did not admit to participating in drug trafficking. Apart from Duc's testimony, there was no further evidence, so there was not enough evidence to prove Phanh's involvement in the case.

Defendant Lo Van Duc at the trial. Photo: Tran Vu

In court, Duc admitted his crime and asked for a lighter sentence so he could return home to take care of his son. When mentioning his son, the defendant's voice became low and his face sad.

According to relatives, Duc was once married to a woman from the same village. During their time together, Duc and his wife had a child. When the child was not yet 2 years old, the wife, born in 1993, left for China. Therefore, since childhood, the child lacked affection, many nights he cried, asking for his mother.

Being betrayed, Duc had to raise his child alone. After a while, Duc remarried a girl from the same village, Luong Thi Phanh. Just like his first marriage, Duc and his wife did not register their marriage and only cooked a few meals before moving in together.

Since having a stepmother, Duc has had more love and care. However, the child's family with both parents only lasted for a short time before falling apart. Duc's descent into drug trafficking has caused the child to continue to live a life lacking in affection.

What's even sadder is that after Duc was arrested and his wife was accused of being involved in the case, the couple's relationship was damaged. Relatives said that Duc's second wife had also left him. Therefore, the child is currently living with his grandmother. Unfortunately, Mrs. Tien is also old and often sick, so taking care of the child is even more difficult.

Taking advantage of the few minutes the court was debating, Mrs. Tien took her grandson in to see his father. With a frightened face, the child only saw Duc for a moment before running outside. Seeing his skinny son quickly run outside, Duc burst into tears.

For the crime of illegal drug trafficking, Lo Van Duc was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Just because of greed, Duc once again caused his child, who had already suffered many disadvantages, to become an “orphan” of both parents.

Late at noon, Mrs. Tieu braved the sun and led her grandson home to catch the bus. At 60 years old, with gray hair, she now has another responsibility: being both a grandmother and a father, raising a young grandchild.