Mr. Le Tung Van received 5 years in prison.

On the evening of July 21, after 2 days of trial, Duc Hoa District People's Court (Long An) sentenced Mr. Le Tung Van to 5 years in prison for the crime ofTaking advantage of democratic freedoms to infringe upon the interests of the State, organizations and individuals.according to Clause 2, Article 331 of the Penal Code.

The panel of judges determined that the defendants’ actions were repeated, seriously violating local security and order. The indictment was correct in terms of the person, the crime, and the law. The defendants were organized, discussed, agreed, and had clear roles assigned.

"In particular, defendant Le Tung Van plays the role of mastermind and needs to be isolated from society for a period of time as a deterrent. The defendant is over 70 years old - a mitigating circumstance; but aggravating circumstances are not honestly confessing and committing the crime two or more times," the verdict stated.

As accomplices, defendants Le Thanh Nhat Nguyen (30 years old), Le Thanh Hoan Nguyen (31 years old) and Le Thanh Trung Duong (27 years old) were each sentenced to 4 years in prison. Defendant Le Thanh Nhi Nguyen received 3 years and 6 months in prison; Ms. Cao Thi Cuc received 3 years in prison.

The defendants in court on July 20. Photo: Hoang Nam

According to the panel of judges, the legal proceedings of the agencies were in accordance with the law, with no signs of wrongdoing. The defendants complained but did not provide evidence. Some victims and witnesses were absent but this did not affect the trial process. The defendants did not admit to their actions, but the expert conclusions and statements clearly showed their criminal acts.

Accordingly, from 2019 to 2021, defendant Van directed Hoan Nguyen and Nhat Nguyen to create YouTube accounts.5 Little Monks - Zen Monastery on the Edge of the UniverseandNhat Nguyen - Hoan Nguyen Official. The defendants filmed, staged, and posted videos with content that negatively affected public opinion, provided false information; offended the honor and reputation of groups and individuals, and directly violated the Duc Hoa District Police, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha of Long An Province, and Venerable Thich Nhat Tu. The forensic conclusion confirmed that the videos were not edited.

Mr. Le Tung Van (right) at court on July 20. Photo: Hoang Nam

Previously, in his final statement, Le Thanh Nhi Nguyen said that he was wronged and that he did nothing in the 5 videos that the indictment accused him of. The defendant did not harm the Duc Hoa District Police, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha... From there, Nhi Nguyen requested the panel of judges to return the investigation file and at the same time release the defendant on bail to "take care of the people living in the Zen monastery".

Similarly, the other defendants all claimed to be wronged. Among them, Le Thanh Trung Duong said he did not stage or post the five videos online. Ms. Cao Thi Cuc said that she did not know about the Internet and was wrongly accused. Meanwhile, Mr. Le Tung Van said he "did not commit any crime under Vietnamese law"./.