The Binh Thuan Province's Police Department, the People's Court and the local People's Procuracy have all made a public apology to Huynh Van Nen for his 18 years of wrongful imprisonment.

Huynh Van Nen

The meeting was held at the headquarters of the Tan Minh Town's People's Committee on December 3. Tran Thi Kim Huong, deputy judge of Binh Thuan Province People's Court said, "We want to apologise to Nen and his family. We know we can't make up for what he has gone through. But we promise to make up for the mistakes."

Tran Thi Kim Huong, deputy judge of Binh Thuan Province People's Court

Representatives of Binh Thuan Province's Police Department and the local People's Procuracy also apologised to Nen.

Hundreds of Nen's neighbours attended the meeting but said the 30-minute meeting was not good enough for the years he had to stay in prison.

Representative of Binh Thuan Province's Police Department

Nguyen Thi Cam, Nen's wife, said their lawyers were completing documents to demand compensation. "If we are compensated, I'll use the money to fix the house, take my husband to the doctors for a health check and let my children have a better life," she said.

Nen hopes he could help his family more after the release. "When I returned to my hometown, everything has changed so much. More beautiful houses have been built but my home is still the same."

Nen's neighbours attended the meeting

Huynh Van Nen, 53, was arrested on May 17, 1998 for killing Le Thi Bong. During the investigation, Nen was also charged with the murder of Duong Thi My which took place in March 1993. He was given a life sentence by the provincial people's court for killing Bong and six years of imprisonment for killing My.

Nine of his relatives were also imprisoned for the murder of My. In 2000, they were released as it was proved that Nen was not My's killer, however, he was still believed to be Bong's murderer.

In 2014, the Supreme People's Procuracy were informed that Nguyen Tho could be the real killer. Many lawyers offered to help Nen to return to his family without charge. Nen was finally released on October 22, following a decision by the local People's Procuracy.