Sentenced to 7 years in prison and 5 years of probation

Nghe An: First instance trial of anti-state propaganda case

(Baonghean.vn) - On the morning of April 12, 2018, the People's Court of Nghe An province held a first-instance trial of Nguyen Viet Dung on charges of "Propaganda against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam".

The representative of the Procuracy read the indictment at the trial. Photo: PV

Nguyen Viet Dung (aka "Dung phi ho", born in 1986, permanent residence in Hau Thanh commune, Yen Thanh, Nghe An).

According to the case, in 2016 Dung was prosecuted for disturbing public order and sentenced to prison by the Hanoi court. After being released from prison, Dung did not repent or work hard, but instead deliberately used social networks, colluding with reactionary elements to write articles, take photos to propagate, distort the truth, sabotage the country, and destroy the peaceful lives of the people.

During the period from April 30, 2017 to May 19, 2017, Nguyen Viet Dung posted on his personal Facebook page "Dung phi ho" many articles that Dung himself drafted, copied and edited his personal opinions with content that propagated and distorted the policies, guidelines and policies of the Party and State, slandered the people's government, distorted history, and defamed leaders in order to oppose the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Lawyer Ngo Anh Tuan (Hanoi Bar Association) and lawyer Nguyen Kha Thanh (Phu Yen Province Bar Association) participated in defending the defendant. Photo: PV

In addition, Nguyen Viet Dung made, stored, and circulated four "yellow flags with three red stripes" at his private home in Hau Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district, and hung them in public places, then filmed and took photos, then posted them on his personal Facebook page "Dung phi ho" to share and distribute on the internet to oppose the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Dung was also warned by the police about his actions of establishing the “Republican Party” and his actions of drafting and posting articles with propaganda content that distorted the policies and guidelines of the Party and the State. However, the defendant refused to give up and improve himself, continuing to commit crimes.

At the trial, defendant Nguyen Viet Dung admitted his crime.

The judge announced the verdict. Photo: PV

Based on the content of the case, based on the documents in the case file that were debated at the trial, the opinions of the prosecutor, the defendant, and the defense attorney, after considering the aggravating and mitigating circumstances, the Trial Panel declared the defendant Nguyen Viet Dung guilty of the crime of "Propaganda against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam" and sentenced the defendant Nguyen Viet Dung to 7 years in prison and 5 years of probation.

This is a strict sentence, right person, right crime, showing the leniency of the law, and is a warning to those with thoughts of opposing the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.