On the afternoon of 24/9, the Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Court decided to exempt Tran Huynh Kiet, 25, a resident of Ninh Hoa ward, from serving his prison sentence. The procedural authorities are currently finalizing the related procedures as required.

Kiet was sentenced to 3 years in prison for having intercourse with a person between the ages of 13 and 16. The victim was also his legal wife, who was 15 at the time they began their relationship, and whom he impregnated.

Previously, the Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Procuracy sent an official letter to the Chief Judge of the Provincial People's Court requesting exemption from imprisonment for Kiet. According to the Procuracy, Kiet was a first-time offender with good character, had demonstrated good legal compliance, had especially difficult family circumstances, and had been rehabilitated.

Furthermore, he received multiple commendations during his military service for his achievements in emulation movements. Kiet and his wife registered their marriage in 2024. They have two children and live in a rented house in Ninh Hoa ward.

"The convicted person is responsible for his family, solely working to support his wife and children, and therefore poses no further danger to society," the Procuracy assessed.

Tran Huynh Kiet and his two young children at their rented house in Ninh Hoa ward. Photo: Sao Mai

Tran Huynh Kiet and his two young children at their rented house in Ninh Hoa ward. Photo: Sao Mai

Therefore, the Procuracy requested the court to consider and grant Kiet exemption from his 3-year prison sentence based on point c, Clause 2, Article 62 of the 2015 Criminal Code: "A person sentenced to a definite term of imprisonment of up to 3 years, who has not yet served their prison sentence, may, at the request of the Chief Procurator of the Supreme People's Procuracy, be exempted from serving the sentence by the Court if they have particularly difficult family circumstances and are deemed to no longer pose a danger to society."

According to case files, in 1/2021, Kiet (then 21) and his girlfriend (15 at the time, later his wife) became romantically involved and engaged in sexual relations. By 4/2021, his girlfriend became pregnant. With the agreement of both families, she moved in with Kiet, and they lived together as husband and wife. She gave birth to their first child in early 2022 and their second in mid-2024.

In 5/2024, Kiet and his wife went to the People's Committee of Ninh Hiep ward, the former Ninh Hoa town (now Ninh Hoa ward), to register their marriage. Two months later, when Kiet's wife went to register the birth of their child, the authorities discovered that she had given birth to their first child before turning 16. This information was then reported to the Ninh Hoa Town Police (former) for investigation. Subsequently, Kiet was prosecuted for intercourse with a person between the ages of 13 and 16.

At the first-instance trial, Kiet was sentenced to 3 years and 6 months in prison. Kiet and his wife later filed an appeal for a reduced sentence, hoping for a suspended sentence.

On 30/7, the Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Court held an appellate trial and sentenced Kiet to 3 years in prison (a reduction of 6 months from the initial sentence) due to the application of an additional mitigating circumstance: Kiet "had compensated his wife with money." Kiet and his wife then submitted a request for a postponement of the sentence execution.

Bui Toan