Vietnam has granted amnesty to local man convicted of spying, local newspaper Vietnam News reported Monday.

Vietnam State President Nguyen Minh Triet pardoned Nguyen Vu Binh sentenced to seven years imprisonment and three years of probation in May 2004, after he sent a letter to the president's office pleading for clemency.

In his letter, Binh, 39, said he wished to be released so he could reunite with his family and pledged to be a law-abiding citizen.

Binh was released on Saturday afternoon to return to his home in Hanoi capital after serving more than two-thirds of his jail term.

The man, born in northern Nam Dinh province, was arrested by the Hanoi Police for spying in 2002.

Source: Xinhua