Heartbreaking scene: Young child attends trial where father faces death sentence and mother faces imprisonment.

On the 28th day of the Lunar New Year, they trafficked 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 a married couple. They came together after both had experienced failed marriages. After getting married, the couple lived in Nghi Phu commune. Both are quite well-known due to their past criminal records. Dung has served three prison sentences for various crimes.theft of propertyTrang has been imprisoned twice for drug-related offenses.

Relatives say that because they had both experienced a failed marriage, the couple did not hold a wedding ceremony but only registered their marriage. In 2016, they had a child together. Besides the house inherited from relatives in Hamlet 16, Nghi Phu Commune, Dung and Trang also bought another house in Hamlet 17 of the same commune. One day in early 2020, neighbors were surprised to see the police search both houses belonging to Dung and Trang. Only then did the villagers learn that the couple had been arrested in connection with a crime.drug trafficking.

Defendants Trang and Dung shed tears as they looked at their young child. Photo: Tran Vu

Accordingly, on January 22, 2020 (the 28th day of the 12th lunar month), Dung took 650 million VND to the mountainous district of Que Phong to buy drugs from a Laotian national. He brought the drugs back and divided them, hiding them in two houses belonging to him and his wife. On January 28 (the 4th day of Tet), Nguyen Cong Hoi (40 years old), residing in Quang Trung ward, Vinh City, called Dung to order two types of drugs totaling 4.5 million VND. Dung agreed and instructed Hoi to meet Trang (Dung's wife) to pick up the drugs. That afternoon, after receiving the drugs from her husband, Trang sold them to Hoi.

The drugs that Hoi bought were hidden in his apartment along with 1,535 grams of drugs he had bought earlier, with the intention of reselling them for profit. On the afternoon of February 13th, Hoi took 0.34 grams of drugs to sell to Pham Minh Hieu (43 years old), residing in Hung Chinh commune, Vinh City, but was arrested by the police. Immediately afterwards, the police searched his house and issued an emergency detention order against Hoi. At this time, Hoi confessed to buying the drugs from Trang. The police then searched Trang's two houses and issued an emergency detention order against Nguyen Thi Trang. While the police were searching Trang's house, Dung voluntarily surrendered the drugs he had bought earlier.

The investigating agency determined that, in this case, Doan Van Dung is criminally liable for the trafficking of nearly 3 kg of narcotics. Nguyen Thi Trang is criminally liable for the trafficking of 4.815 grams of narcotics. Nguyen Cong Hoi is criminally liable for the illegal trafficking of 6.35 grams of narcotics. Hieu is criminally liable for the crime of possessing 0.34 grams of narcotics.

Heartbreaking: Young children go to court to meet their parents.

The trial of four defendants: Doan Van Dung, Nguyen Thi Trang, and Nguyen Cong Hoi for "illegally trading narcotics," and Pham Minh Hieu for "illegally possessing narcotics," lasted more than a day. Throughout the trial, the sight of a 4-year-old child playing in the courthouse hallway evoked feelings of sadness in many. That child is the son of defendants Trang and Dung.

Since her parents were imprisoned, the 4-year-old girl has been taken in by relatives. Today, she wore a beautiful dress to court to see her parents. Because she wasn't allowed inside, the little girl sat quietly in the hallway waiting. Occasionally, she would peek inside and call out, "Mommy Trang, Daddy Dung." But the vast courtroom meant her soft calls couldn't reach her parents who were on trial.

With the father sentenced to death and the mother imprisoned, many feel sorry for the child who, at an age, needs education and care. Photo: Tran Vu

In the courtroom, all the defendants admitted to their crimes. Defendant Dung admitted to trafficking drugs to sell during the Lunar New Year. Defendant Trang testified that she sold drugs to Hoi because she followed her husband's instructions. Defendant Hoi testified that she met Dung during a drug rehabilitation program. After leaving the program, knowing that Dung had drugs, she bought them to resell to other addicts. Defendant Hieu testified that he bought the drugs for personal use, not for resale.

Regarding the nearly 500 million VND seized by authorities during the house search, the defendant Trang requested the court to return it. According to her statement, the money belonged to her parents. Knowing her parents had sold land and had money, Trang and her husband borrowed it to renovate their house and start a business. “At that time, my wife and I only took 20 million VND to buy some materials to renovate the house, but we hadn't been able to do it yet. I ask the court to return that money so I can give it back to my parents,” Trang stated. Trang's father also confirmed this in court and expressed his wish to receive the money back.

Facing the death penalty, Dung apologized to his wife and relatives for "dragging her into prison." He pleaded with the court to reduce his wife's sentence and give himself a chance to live. During the deliberation that day, the couple, Dung and Trang, shed tears as their young child was brought into the courtroom. "My child, I'm sorry," Trang choked out, apologizing to her daughter. In that emotional moment, Dung used the face mask his daughter had been given earlier to wipe away his tears. Before the court pronounced the sentence, Trang only had time to instruct her relatives to take care of their young child.

For trafficking large quantities of drugs, Doan Van Dung was sentenced to death. Dung's wife, Nguyen Thi Trang, was sentenced to 2 years in prison, and Nguyen Cong Hoi to 5 years in prison for illegally trafficking narcotics. Pham Minh Hieu was sentenced to 12 months in prison for illegally possessing narcotics.

The husband received the harshest sentence, the wife went to prison, leaving their young child orphaned. Trang's tears as she left the courtroom seemed to come too late…