Independence Day is full of joy for those who have made mistakes.

Joy of homecoming

Before the Lunar New Year of the Tiger, NVH (born in 1993, from Quynh Luu) was arrested for illegally buying and selling 12 kg of firecrackers and was sentenced to 12 months in prison. Having spent a Tet holiday in prison, more than anyone, H. realized the price he had to pay for his ignorance of the law and his greed. H. is one of six prisoners serving his sentence at the Nghe An Provincial Police Detention Center who were granted amnesty on the occasion of National Day, September 2. “I was away from my family during the Lunar New Year, but now I am able to return to everyone on Independence Day, I am very happy and joyful. Thanks to the amnesty, I was released from prison 1 month and 18 days early. Only when I come here do I know how precious a day of freedom, a day of reunion with relatives and family is,” H. confided.

Lieutenant Colonel Dinh Trong Dung - Warden of Nghe An Provincial Police Detention Center presents gifts to congratulate the pardoned prisoners. Photo: Nhu Binh

When he heard that his name was on the list of people whose pardon was signed by the President, prisoner NBD (from Nghi Loc) was so happy that he couldn't sleep all night, just looking forward to the morning of the pardon. Mr. D. had built a model of a buffalo and cow farm, but business was not going well and he suffered losses. Being in need, he took a risk and followed others to make fake documents, resulting in a 36-month prison sentence. Determined to reform and return home soon, prisoner D. was considered for a sentence reduction once, the reduction period was 2 months, now he isamnestyreleased from prison 9 months and 7 days early.

Ms. NTN happily welcomed her younger brother who was pardoned and released early on the occasion of National Day, September 2. Photo: Nhu Binh

After completing the procedures and paperwork, he took off his prisoner uniform, put on the clothes he had prepared in advance, and anxiously waited for the camp management officer to lead him to the gate. Seeing his family standing across the street, he raised his hand and waved. His sister hurried across the street, walked closer, and the two sisters hugged each other.

“I am so happy, my dear. I couldn’t sleep last night because I was so happy. This morning, the whole family woke up early and went here to pick him up. Thank you to the prison staff for creating favorable conditions to help him reform peacefully and have his sentence reduced so he can return to his family,” said Ms. NTN, Mr. D’s sister, with tears in her eyes. The woman was moved to witness the special day of her eldest brother, who has two shades of hair, the day he paid off all his legal sentence and became a free man, returning to his wife, children and family...

Become a useful person for family and society

The person with the longest sentence to be pardoned this time is NVK (from Hung Yen province), with 5 years in prison for "Violating road traffic regulations". Through a round of sentence reductions and this pardon decision, K. shortened his sentence by nearly 2 years to return to his wife and 2 young children. Receiving the pardon decision and a gift bag with travel money, remaining deposit money and a brand new citizen identification card from the officers, K. walked around shaking hands with each inmate.

He wore the shirt given to him by the Board of Supervisors and prison officers. The shirt still had its creases intact, not only as a token of affection from the prison officers and teachers in his special school, but also as a word of encouragement, reminding him to quickly shake off the past, quickly integrate into life and rebuild his life, truly be a good citizen, useful to his family and society.

NVK hugged his young wife tightly the moment he stepped out of the prison. Photo: Nhu Binh

Mr. K and 5 prisoners who had just received the amnesty decision were led to the prison gate to be handed over to their families. His wife, a woman emaciated from the worries of 3 years without her husband, had traveled by bus from Hung Yen all night, and was already waiting. "Go home, try to stabilize your life soon, don't ever come back here", Lieutenant Colonel Le Xuan Hanh - Head of the prisoner management division, Nghe An Provincial Police Detention Center, shook Khai's hand, half-jokingly, half-seriously.

“Thank you to the Board of Supervisors and the officers who have always encouraged and helped me to reform with peace of mind, strive in work and training so that today I can receive the clemency of the Party and the State. Returning to a new life may not be easy, but I will try my best to maintain myself, soon integrate into life, become a useful person for my family, community and society,” Mr. K. held the hand of the prison officer tightly, promised the special teacher and also promised himself before moving forward, opening his arms to hug his wife who came to welcome him back to his family, to his two young children.

Detention camp officers hand out citizen identification cards, food and travel money to people who have just been pardoned. Photo: Nhu Binh

Lieutenant Colonel Dinh Trong Dung - Warden of Nghe An Provincial Police Detention Camp said: "The consideration and proposal for amnesty of the Detention Camp has been implemented promptly, seriously, closely, accurately, in accordance with the conditions, the right subjects, in accordance with the provisions of the law and the guidance of the Central Amnesty Advisory Council, ensuring publicity, transparency, impartiality, fairness, and democracy right from the inmate teams.

The amnesty on the occasion of National Day affirms the Party and State's lenient and humane policy towards criminals who are being sentenced to prison, thereby encouraging them to actively study, work, reform, and strive to become useful people in society; encouraging those who have not yet enjoyed amnesty this time to reform, strive, and train themselves to soon enjoy clemency in the next amnesty periods."