Heartbroken child attends court hearing for father sentenced to death, mother in prison

28th of Tet went to sell drugs

Doan Van Dung (42 years old), residing in Nghi Duc commune and Nguyen Thi Trang (46 years old), residing in Nghi Phu commune, Vinh city are husband and wife. They both came together when each of them had a broken marriage. After getting married, the couple lived in Nghi Phu commune. Both of them are known by many people because of their criminal past. While Dung was imprisoned 3 times for the crimetheft of propertyTrang was jailed twice for drug-related crimes.

Relatives said that because they had experienced a broken marriage, when they came together, this couple did not hold a wedding but only registered their marriage. In 2016, they had a child together. In addition to the house left by relatives in Hamlet 16, Nghi Phu Commune, Dung and his wife also bought another house in Hamlet 17 of the same commune. One day in early 2020, neighbors were surprised to see the police come to search the two houses of Dung and Trang. Only then did the villagers know that this couple was arrested for being involved indrug trafficking.

Defendants Trang and Dung shed tears when looking at their child. Photo: Tran Vu

Accordingly, on January 22, 2020 (ie December 28 of the lunar calendar), Dung brought 650 million VND to the mountainous district of Que Phong to buy drugs from a Laotian man. Dung brought the purchased drugs back, divided them and hid them in the couple's two houses. On January 28 (ie the 4th day of the Lunar New Year), Nguyen Cong Hoi (40 years old), residing in Quang Trung ward, Vinh city, called Dung to order 2 types of drugs for a total of 4.5 million VND. Dung agreed and told Hoi to meet Trang (Dung's wife) to get the "goods". That same afternoon, after receiving the drugs from her husband, Trang sold them to Hoi.

Hoi brought the purchased drugs back to his apartment to hide along with 1.535 grams of drugs he had previously purchased to resell for profit. On the afternoon of February 13, Hoi took 0.34 grams of drugs to sell to Pham Minh Hieu (43 years old), residing in Hung Chinh commune, Vinh city, and was arrested by the police. Immediately after that, the police searched the house and issued an emergency detention order for Hoi. At this time, Hoi confessed to buying drugs from Trang. The police force went to Trang's two houses to search and also issued an emergency detention order for Nguyen Thi Trang. While the police searched the house, Dung voluntarily handed over the drugs he had previously purchased.

The investigation agency determined that in this case, Doan Van Dung must bear criminal responsibility for buying and selling nearly 3 kg. Nguyen Thi Trang must bear criminal responsibility for buying and selling 4.815 grams of drugs. Nguyen Cong Hoi must bear criminal responsibility for illegally buying and selling 6.35 grams of drugs. Hieu must bear criminal responsibility for possessing 0.34 grams of drugs.

Heartbreaking scene of a child going to court to meet his parents

The trial of 4 defendants: Doan Van Dung, Nguyen Thi Trang, Nguyen Cong Hoi for “Illegal drug trafficking” and Pham Minh Hieu for “Illegal drug possession” lasted more than 1 day. During the trial, the image of a 4-year-old child sitting and playing in the hallway of the court made many people feel sorry. That child is the child of the defendants Trang and Dung.

Since her parents were in trouble with the law, the 4-year-old girl has been taken care of by her relatives. Today, she wore a beautiful dress to the court to meet her parents. Because she was not allowed into the court, the little girl sat obediently in the hallway. Occasionally, she would look inside and call out, “Mother Trang, Father Dung.” But the large auditorium prevented the child’s soft calls from reaching her parents in court.

The father was sentenced to death and the mother was imprisoned, making many people feel sorry for the child who is at an age where he needs to be educated and cared for. Photo: Tran Vu

In the courtroom, the defendants all admitted to their crimes. Defendant Dung admitted to selling drugs during Tet. Defendant Trang said she sold drugs to Hoi because she followed her husband's instructions. Defendant Hoi said he met Dung during a drug rehabilitation camp. After leaving the camp, he knew Dung had drugs so he bought them to resell to addicts. Defendant Hieu said he bought drugs to use, not to sell.

Regarding the nearly 500 million VND that the authorities confiscated during the house search, defendant Trang asked the court to return it. According to the defendant, that money belonged to her biological parents. Knowing that her parents had money from selling land, Trang and her husband borrowed it to repair the house and do business. "At that time, my husband and I just took 20 million VND to buy some materials to repair the house but we haven't been able to do it yet. I ask the court to return that money so that I can return it to my parents," defendant Trang stated. Defendant Trang's father also confirmed the above when he came to court and wanted to get his money back.

Facing the death penalty, Dung apologized to his wife and relatives for “dragging his wife into prison”. Defendant Dung asked the court to reduce his wife’s sentence and give himself a chance to live. During the deliberation that day, the couple, defendant Dung and Trang, shed tears when they saw their young child being led into court. “My child, I’m sorry”, Trang choked up and apologized to her daughter. In that choked moment, Dung took the mask his daughter had been given by her relatives to wipe away his tears. Before the court announced the verdict, Trang only had time to tell her relatives to take care of her young child.

For the act of buying and selling a large amount of drugs, Doan Van Dung was sentenced to death by the court. Dung's wife, defendant Nguyen Thi Trang, was sentenced to 2 years in prison, and defendant Nguyen Cong Hoi to 5 years in prison for the crime of illegal drug trafficking. Defendant Pham Minh Hieu was sentenced to 12 months in prison for the crime of illegal drug possession.

Husband received the highest sentence, wife went to jail leaving behind a helpless child. Trang’s tears when leaving the court seemed too late…

Tran Vu