The sadness of children whose fathers are involved in drugs

The father's mistake

As the breadwinner of the family, Lu Van Ca went to work in the mines every day and had a decent income. With his wife's diligence, family life was relatively stable compared to the countryside. However, because of his learning, Lu Van Ca got involved in drugs without realizing it. At first, it was just a trial, but later on, Ca became more and more dependent on it.drugThat deadly substance made the father of three children increasingly addicted and entangled in the law.

Lu Van Ca and other defendants at the trial. Photo: Tran Vu

According to the indictment of the People's Procuracy of Nghe An province, Lu Van Ca regularly used drugs. On the afternoon of February 28, 2022, Ca went to buy drugs to use and met a group of drug addict friends. After learning that the group of friends were going to another district to buy drugs, Ca asked to go along. After discussing, the group drove together by motorbike to a man's house in Tri Le commune, Que Phong district to buy drugs.

Emptying his pockets, Lu Van Ca counted 1.6 million VND so he pooled his money to buy it. At the drug dealer’s house, the whole group was also “treated” by the homeowner by allowing them to use drugs. After trying and buying the “goods”, Ca’s group went home together. While on the move, Ca’s group was discovered and arrested by the authorities. Lu Van Ca and his group of addicts were prosecuted for “Illegal possession of narcotics”.

In fact, this is not the first time Ca has committed a drug-related crime. Five years ago, Lu Van Ca was sentenced to 30 months in prison for “Illegal possession of narcotics”. At the end of 2019, Ca finished serving his prison sentence but relapsed when he returned home. The defendant admitted that his addiction had made his family’s finances even more difficult, and his wife and children suffered. “The defendant tried to quit several times but failed,” Ca explained.

At the trial for the crime of “Illegal possession of narcotics” held at the end of September 2022, the defendant expressed his sincerity and repentance to ask for a lighter sentence. “The defendant’s family situation is very difficult, the children are still young, the wife does not have a stable job, I ask the court to consider reducing the sentence so that the defendant can return to his family soon,” Ca told the court.

During the trial, Ca's children were outside the courtroom. Photo: Tran Vu

During the trial, Ca turned his head down many times to look for his children. However, because the children were outside in the hallway, Ca could not see them, his eyes showing clear sadness.

Disadvantaged children

According to regulations, because they are not old enough, the three children of defendant Lu Van Ca are not allowed to enter the courtroom. Boy Ganh -character names have been changed(16 years old) was assigned to look after his two younger siblings so that their mother could attend the trial. While the two younger siblings did not seem to understand what was happening, Ganh showed clear sadness on his face. Ganh sadly said: "This morning, my mother told my brothers and sisters to pack their things and go to the city to meet my father. She only said that today the court will hear my father's case, but I don't know the details." Having said that, he picked up his 9-month-old sister on his shoulder and comforted her when she showed signs of discomfort and restlessness.

Ganh carried his younger brother while looking into the courtroom. Especially when his father was being questioned by the court, the boy would look closer to see him more clearly. He said that since his father was arrested, the road was so far away that his siblings had not had a chance to visit him. He said he missed his father very much, but knowing that his mother had no money, he did not dare ask to go with her every time she went to the detention center to visit his father.

Bo Ganh stands out with a tuft of white hair on his forehead. Photo: Tran Vu

Then the boy told about his family's life over the years. "My family lives in the village. Before, my father went to work in the mines with others, my mother stayed home to take care of my younger siblings, and also did production and animal husbandry... But since my father was arrested, my siblings and I have had to take care of each other. Many days when both mother and I went to work, my two younger siblings stayed home," the boy said.

When asked about his education, the boy said he had dropped out of school to work in the mines to earn money to help his mother take care of the family. Ganh said he often worked with his uncles in the village. Even though he was younger and had lighter work, the uncles still shared the money equally because they loved him. Every day he earned a few hundred thousand dong to give to his mother.

The conversation was interrupted when Ganh noticed the noise inside the courtroom. It was time for the court to deliberate. Ganh held his baby and peeked into the courtroom with his baby at the door. Seeing his baby, Lu Van Ca waved his hand, but the youngest child, only 9 months old, cried loudly. A relative standing nearby said in tears: “Dad was arrested when the baby was only 2 months old, how could she remember her dad’s face…”.

The girl cried loudly, Ganh quickly carried her out to the hallway to comfort and pamper her. Then, without anyone reminding him, Ganh opened the bag he had brought with him and took out the milk that had been prepared earlier. He rubbed the milk bottle in his hand, saying it was still warm, and then gave it to the girl to drink. After the little girl had finished drinking the milk, she fell asleep on his shoulder. In contrast to the innocence of her youngest sister, Ganh's face showed clear sadness, because she knew her father was about to receive a court sentence.

When the court came to pronounce the verdict, Ganh’s father stood out with a tuft of white hair on his forehead. After considering the role of each defendant in the case, the court sentenced Lu Van Ca to 8 years in prison for “Illegal possession of narcotics”. The other defendants received the most sentences of 16 years in prison, the least of 18 months in prison.

Three children watched their father from the hallway of the courtroom. Photo: Tran Vu

Hearing the sentence his father received, Ganh's eyes turned red, while he was still holding his little sister tightly in his arms. Seeing his father being led back to the prison, Ganh hurriedly ran after him but was lost in the bustling crowd. At this time, Ca also turned to look at his children but it was too late.

The trial ended, the three Ganh brothers followed everyone home. Looking at the skinny, small 16-year-old boy, smaller than his peers, but from now on having to help his mother support the family, I felt so sorry. If only Lu Van Ca had been brave and not indulged in drugs, the three children would not have to witness this scene...

The 8-year prison sentence for “Illegal possession of narcotics” is appropriate for Ca. Hopefully, this time, Ca will be more thoughtful, love his wife and children, strive to reform, return home soon, and most of all, be determined to give up drugs.