Long slide of life when involved in drugs

Crimes

Tran Ngoc Duc (born in 2004), residing in Quan Hanh town, Nghi Loc district, is the only child of Ms. D. and her husband. When Duc was over 1 year old, his father suddenly passed away. After her husband died, Ms. D. raised her child alone without remarrying. Since childhood, Duc was obedient and well-behaved. But around the end of 9th grade, Duc changed his personality, often following bad friends and neglecting his studies.

After graduating from secondary school, Duc refused to go to school despite his mother's encouragement. After dropping out of school, he followed his friends to hang out everywhere. The imitative nature of adolescence and the lack of strict discipline from his father made Duc fall into drugs without realizing it. At first, he tried drugs, then became addicted and bought drugs to use gradually. That was also the reason why Tran Ngoc Duc was sentenced to 6 months in prison for "Illegal possession of drugs".

After completing his 6-month prison sentence, Duc rented a room in Vinh City. His mother only heard him say that he worked in a restaurant, but she did not know what his job or salary was. And even though he was known to work in the city, Duc never once sent his mother a penny. Perhaps the most comforting thing for Ms. D. was Duc's brief visits home on weekends. Duc came home for a few days and then left again, saying he was busy with work. The young mother did not expect that Duc had become so deeply involved in drugs that he gradually became a seller of that deadly substance to many others. At the end of April 2022, she was shocked to receive the news that her son had been arrested for drugs again.

Tran Ngoc Duc at the trial on September 23. Photo: Tran Vu

Specifically, while attending a friend's birthday party at the end of April, Duc met a man named Quang (unknown background and address). Seeing this person using drugs, Duc also used them, then asked where to buy them. On May 6, following Quang's instructions, Duc hired a taxi to Huong Son district (Ha Tinh) to buy 35 million VND worth of ecstasy and Ketamine from a person of unknown background.

Duc hid the drugs in his rented room, divided them into small pieces to sell for profit. Duc then sold 4 pink pills for 1.6 million VND to a customer. On May 9, while Duc was sleeping in his rented room, the police came to inspect and discovered a lot of drugs weighing more than 90 grams.

The high price of life

On September 23, Nghe An Provincial People's Court opened a criminal trial of defendant Tran Ngoc Duc (born 2004), residing in Quan Hanh town, Nghi Loc district, for the crime of "Illegal trading of narcotics".drug”.In front of the witness stand, Duc admitted that he had been in prison once but reoffended because of greed. The defendant presented his family circumstances, including his father's death and his mother's frequent illness, asking the court to consider reducing his sentence.

A judge asked: “You know your mother has been sick for a long time, so have you ever sent her money to support her?” “No,” Duc shook his head and replied. “What do you think when you commit crimes that make your mother so sad?” The defendant remained silent in response to the court’s question. Sitting in the other row, the mother put her face down on the table. Choking up, when the court allowed her to speak, she could not speak clearly, only sobbing.

After making so many mistakes that made his parents sad, Duc did not take the initiative to apologize to his mother. Only when the court reminded him did the defendant turn to his mother and say, "I hope you stay healthy and wait for me to come home." While waiting for the court to deliberate, even though he saw his mother crying, the 18-year-old man did not say a word of encouragement. Instead, Duc just turned around and talked to his girlfriend and the friends who were with him.

Waiting for a long time without seeing her son turn around to talk or ask, the mother wiped away her tears, intending to turn to Duc to say a few words when the Trial Council announced the verdict. Although in this case the defendant had aggravating circumstances of recidivism, but considering that the defendant also had many mitigating circumstances such as honest confession, repentance, the court sentenced Tran Ngoc Duc to 9 years and 6 months in prison for the crime of "Illegal drug trafficking".

Mother's pain

Ms. D. - Duc's mother is 44 years old, earning a living every day by running to the market and farming. All her hopes in life are placed on her only son, all her sadness is hidden in her heart to hope for her son to have peaceful and happy days. A few years after her husband passed away, thanks to the support of relatives, she was able to build a small house on the land her grandparents gave her. Although life is still difficult, she always wants her son to be good. But then, Duc made her mother cry many nights and this is the second time she followed her son tocourt.

Ms. D. - mother of defendant Tran Ngoc Duc collapsed on the table many times during the trial. Photo: Tran Vu

In the courtroom, looking at her only child standing before the bar, tears welled up in her eyes. She blamed herself for not raising her child properly, allowing him to fall into the path of crime. But in contrast to the mother’s pitiful crying was the child’s indifferent attitude. It seemed that the mother’s pain still could not awaken her teenage son who had continuously committed crimes.

Attending this trial, in addition to the pain and helplessness of her spoiled child, Ms. D. also had great worries when she recently discovered a strange tumor in her body. Although the doctors asked her to be hospitalized for necessary tests, she said she had no money so she had to go home. Up to now, the pain from the tumor has further affected her health.

The second time her only child was imprisoned for drugs, the mother was stunned in the middle of the courtroom. She just sat there silently even though the trial had ended. During the moment he was escorted past his mother, Duc did not even say a word of apology. When the sound of her son's footsteps could no longer be heard, Ms. D. seemed to be holding back, then sobbed. Seeing that, several relatives sitting below rushed up to encourage her and then helped her leave.

So from now on, in the small, lonely house, only she will be left alone when her only child is in prison. Then, when the pain comes, who will encourage and take care of her? Hopefully, during the months of labor and reform in prison, Duc will have time to calm down, think of his mother, and strive to return soon, have time to take care of his mother and rebuild his life!

Dang Nguyen - Tran Vu