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 shorts kept appearing in the hallway of the courtroom of Nghe An Provincial People's Court, causing sympathy from many people.

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 outside in the hallway looking in. Photo: Tran Vu

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

Asked if he missed his father, the boy replied: “I miss him so much. I haven’t seen him for months.” 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 investigation has fought with Phanh, 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 is no further evidence, so there is not enough basis to prove that Phanh is involved in the case.

Defendant Lo Van Duc at 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 talking about his son, his voice became low and his face sad.

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

Being betrayed by his lover, 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 just cooked a few meals before moving in together.

Since having a stepmother, Duc has had more love and care. However, the warm home 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 without affection.

What is even sadder is that after Duc was arrested and his wife was accused of being involved in the case, their relationship was damaged. Relatives said that Duc's second wife had also left him. Therefore, the child is now 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 out. Seeing the skinny child quickly run out, Duc burst into tears.

For the crime of illegal drug trafficking, Lo Van Duc was sentenced to 20 years in prison. 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 a grandmother, a father, and a mother raising her young grandchild.