VietNamNet Bridge – Bac Giang People’s Procuracy on Tuesday freed Han Duc Long, 57, who was earlier sentenced to death for murder and raping children 11 years ago.

Han Duc Long has returned to his hometown and reunited with his family after being sentenced to death 11 years ago. – Photo dantri.com.vn

A lot of the evidence against Long did not have a strong foundation, the People’s Procuracy said.

Long has returned to his hometown and reunited with his family in Yen Ly Village, Phuc Son Commune, Tan Yen District.

Earlier, on May 16, 2005, while returning home from work, Son and Lieu, a couple from Phuc Son Commune, discovered their five-year-old daughter was missing. Her body was found the next morning in a field with evidence pointing to her being raped.

Following four months of investigation, the provincial police could not find a suspect, so they called on residents for assistance.

Ngo Thi Khuyet, Long’s neighbour, then informed the police that Long had raped her and her daughter. She claimed Long had also raped Son and Lieu’s daughter.

Long was subsequently sentenced to death. But during hearings in different courts, Long all along maintained his innocence and said that he was forced to confess he was guilty.

Following a thorough investigation, Bac Giang People’s Procuracy decided to release Long.

Source: VNS