Authorities in Hanh Lam commune reported that Hoa was captured shortly after midnight on 21/8, hiding approximately one kilometer from Prison No. 6.

For over a day, hundreds of prison officers, Hanh Lam commune police, civilian defense forces, and local residents set up checkpoints, patrolled roads, searched forested areas, and nearby residential areas to find Hoa.

Tran Ngoc Hoa at the time of his capture. Photo: Police provided

Tran Ngoc Hoa at the time of his capture. Photo: Police provided

According to records, 36-year-old Hoa, residing in Tan Chau commune, formerly Dien Chau district, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for Intentional Injury and Property Damage. He began serving his sentence on 1/12/2021 at Sub-prison No. 1, Prison No. 6.

On 18/8, Hoa escaped from the prison, exploiting a lapse in security, and was subsequently placed on the wanted list.

Inmate Tran Ngoc Hoa. Photo: Police provided

Inmate Tran Ngoc Hoa. Photo: Police provided

There have been several prison escapes recently, but the inmates have all been quickly recaptured. In 6/2024, Le Thi Hien, serving a three-year and six-month sentence for Fraud and Property Appropriation at Prison No. 6, Hanh Lam commune, escaped while working in the fields at the sub-prison. She was apprehended eight hours later.

On 6/12/2023, Nguyen Dac Hoang, 40, and Phan Cong Thanh, 37, were captured more than two days after escaping from Sub-prison No. 2 of Xuan Ha Prison (Ministry of Public Security) in formerly Cam Xuyen district, Ha Tinh province. In 3/2024, Hoang and Thanh received additional sentences of 22 to 27 months for Escaping from Detention.

In 4/2020, also at Xuan Ha Prison, inmate Dinh Van Duan, serving a four-year sentence for Property Theft, escaped while working in the fields in Cam Son commune. He was apprehended 29 hours later.

Duc Hung