Civil enforcement profession: Where justice meets human hearts

(Chinhphu.vn) - Few people know that behind every successful civil enforcement case are not only coercive decisions or seemingly dry legal regulations, but also the stressful and challenging journey of enforcement officers in balancing "reason" and "compassion".

Ms. Le Thi Huong, Deputy Head of Department 1, Civil Enforcement Agency of Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: VGP/Dieu Anh

Lesson 1: When the heart leads the way for justice

From disputes that have dragged on for decades, houses facing the risk of demolition, to cases where parties react fiercely and aggressively, enforcement officers not only enforce the law but also persistently work to persuade and resolve conflicts so that the parties can find common ground. For them, the greatest happiness is not a successful enforcement decision, but when the case is closed with the voluntary agreement and a handshake of reconciliation between those who were once adversaries.

Amidst countless dry court rulings, heated disputes, and tense enforcement cases, Ms. Le Thi Huong (Deputy Head of Department 1, Civil Enforcement Agency of Ho Chi Minh City) emerges as a silent "mediator." For her, enforcement in judgment execution is always the last resort, but it's never the thing she desires most.

The "Fire and Smoke" Incident and How to Resolve the Conflict Between "Reason" and "Emotion"

In a conversation with us, Ms. Le Thi Huong shared that she was assigned to oversee the enforcement of land seizures involving the mobilization of forces. From 2022 to the present, she has advised on nearly 300 cases of land seizures involving the mobilization of forces. Some of these cases involved her direct participation, and the majority were resolved through negotiation and mediation.

"For me, coercion is always the last resort when the person concerned does not voluntarily comply with the judgment. For an enforcement action to be successful, lawful, and maintain security and order, the enforcement officer must strike a balance between 'reason' and 'compassion'," Ms. Huong shared.

Recalling her professional experiences, Ms. Huong's voice softened as she recounted the shocking explosion in Ho Chi Minh City in 2013, often referred to as the "Phuong pyrotechnics incident"—associated with Mr. Le Minh Phuong, who had worked for many years creating fire and explosion effects for films.

In the film industry, Mr. Phuong was known for his special effects in creating pyrotechnic scenes, having participated in many films such as: "Hanoi Silk Dress," "The Race," "Tay Son Heroes," etc. However, the fateful explosion that occurred right in his own home claimed his life and that of his family, and caused severe damage to many surrounding households.

"This incident has haunted me for a long time, because behind the execution of the sentence lies so much loss, pain, and tears," Ms. Huong shared with a heavy heart.

Ms. Huong stated that, according to the decisions recognizing the settlement of the parties by the Ho Chi Minh City People's Court, after the explosion, many families who suffered losses of life and property filed lawsuits demanding compensation. Those who inherited Mr. Phuong's rights and obligations are responsible for fulfilling the judgments within the scope of the inherited assets.

However, the case became even more difficult because the perpetrator had died, and valuable assets were registered under the names of the housekeeper and her child, without any supporting documents. Legally, she could have dismissed the case as an "unconditional sentence," but her conscience wouldn't allow it. "If I stop, who will seek justice for those who lost their lives?" Ms. Huong wondered, and decided to pursue the case according to her conscience.

Ms. Huong said that the person whose name was on the title of Mr. Phuong's family property was a domestic helper living in Long Xuyen, but when she went to see her, this person denied being the registered owner. To convince her, Ms. Huong went to Long Xuyen many times. On one trip, she waited from morning until night because the person she needed to meet deliberately avoided her.

Undeterred, she reached out to influential people in the local community, asking them to connect her with the victims. She didn't use her power to threaten them, but rather used the pain and loss of the victims to awaken their conscience.

After nearly a year of persistent lobbying, the parties involved, from the property owners and heirs obligated to execute the judgment to those entitled to the judgment, finally agreed to sit down together. The parties voluntarily drew up a written agreement and notarized the sale of the property to obtain compensation for the victims.

"The people whose names were on the property deeds or the actual heirs didn't receive any economic benefit after the property was sold to pay off the debt, but they still agreed. That was the most successful persuasion and lobbying effort I'll never forget," Ms. Huong said.

A 15-year post-divorce property dispute was resolved in just 3 months.

Besides handling complex civil cases, enforcement officer Le Thi Huong also directly handled the famous 15-year-long post-divorce property dispute between businessman N.D.A and former model PTNT.

According to Ms. Huong, this was a case where the two sides were so tense that they "would rather give up all their assets than give anything to each other." When receiving the case, she didn't choose to just talk about legal regulations, but prioritized listening to the feelings and thoughts of each person.

"I can't talk too much about the law because sometimes the parties involved will feel pressured. The important thing is to understand what they are thinking in order to find a way to resolve the issue," Ms. Huong said.

Instead of working through a lawyer, Ms. Huong proactively met with each party directly to discuss the matter. After many persistent efforts and persuasion attempts, striking a balance between reason and emotion, the case, which had dragged on for over a decade, was resolved in just about 3 months.

According to Ms. Huong, the most important thing is to help each person see the benefits of resolving long-standing conflicts.

Throughout her career, despite holding leadership positions, Ms. Huong has always chosen a civil approach with humility. She consistently seeks to bring the parties closer together. "My greatest desire remains to use my skills, sincerity, and professional ethics to persuade and mediate. Coercion is always the last resort," Ms. Huong emphasized.

Ms. Huong shared: What makes her happiest is not the number of cases resolved, but the moment when people who were once adversaries can sit down, calmly talk things through, put an end to their conflict, and happily shake hands.

"After each incident, what I hope for most is that people will be able to let go of their burdens and start their lives anew in the easiest way possible," Ms. Huong said happily.

It is clear that behind the seemingly rigid enforcement decisions or coercive actions lie immense pressure, anxieties, and responsibilities on the part of the enforcement officer. For Ms. Le Thi Huong, the most important thing is not only to complete a judgment in accordance with the law, but also to find a solution that all parties can accept and agree upon, minimizing the harm caused after the dispute.

Above all, cases resolved through persistent advocacy, understanding, and humanity always bring a special sense of happiness to those in the profession, as the law is not only strictly enforced but also truly resonates with the people.

Dieu Anh
(to be continued )

Part 2: The Story of the 'Genie' Moving House: Professional Happiness Behind a Difficult Sentence

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/nghe-thi-hanh-an-dan-su-noi-cong-ly-gap-long-nguoi-102260525215332771.htm