The Hanoi Supreme People's Court has issued a formal public apology toNguyen Thanh Chan, an innocent man who served ten years in prison due toa wrongful murder conviction.

Deputy Chief Judge of the SupremePeople's Court Ngo Hong Phuc read the public apology to Chan in hishometown in the northern province of Bac Giang's Nghia Trung ward onApril 17.

On August 15, 2003, a woman named Nguyen Thi Hoan fromMe village in Nghia Trung commune was killed at her home. Chan was themain suspect and was arrested by the provincial police for murder onSeptember 28, 2003.

On March 26, 2004, Chan was sentenced to lifein prison by the Bac Giang Province People's Court and was forced topay 35 million VND (1,610 USD) to the victim's family.

After hisconviction, Chan maintained his innocence and made an appeal. However,the Supreme Court dismissed his appeal and upheld the initial sentence.

Chan continued to make attempts to prove his innocence, and his family campaigned for his release.

NguyenThi Chien, Chan's wife, lodged a petition on July 9, 2013, withevidence showing the real killer was Ly Nguyen Chung, 25, also from thecommune.

On November 4, 2013, the Supreme People's Procuracysigned a decision asking for a review of the case, after Chung admittedto police he had committed the crime.

On January 25, 2014, the Ministry of Public Security ordered Chan's release.

Atthe meeting, a representative of the Supreme People's Court said itwould work with authorised agencies to negotiate and calculatecompensation for Chan.

Representative of Chan's family askedauthorised agencies to pay compensation based on his loss of income andassets, as well as the pain and suffering he endured from his wrongfulconviction and imprisonment.