Truong Thi Kim Hoan ad been wrongly sentenced by the court of District 1 to 10 years in prison for drug trafficking

A girl in Ho Chi Minh City received a public apology and compensation from a local court Wednesday after a wrongful conviction kept her locked up for four years of a 10-year term.

But she was released in January last year after investigators found that the evidence used against her was “unclear.”

Huynh Ngoc Thanh Thuy, vice presiding judge at the court, officially apologized Hoan before city residents and concerned agencies at the office of Co Giang Ward People’s Committee.

The court has compensated with Hoan VND143 million (US$7,742), Thuy said.

“On behalf of the District 1 People’s Court, my sincere apology goes out to Hoan and her family. I want local agencies to help Hoan quickly get back to her normal life,” she said.

Hoan had been arrested in August 2004, after seven members from the ring said they bought heroin from her. Hoan had plead innocent throughout her trial and incarceration.

Several appeals followed her imprisonment.

Hoan said her mother, now 60 years of age, had been petitioning for her release for four years.

Reported by Hoang Tuan