Appeal trial: Nguyen Viet Dung's sentence reduced by 1 year compared to the first instance trial

On the morning of August 15, at the People's Court of Nghe An province, the Hanoi High People's Court held an appeal trial of defendant Nguyen Viet Dung (born 1986 in Hau Thanh commune, Yen Thanh, Nghe An) for the crime of "Propaganda against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam" under Article 88 of the 1999 Penal Code.

According to the indictment of the Supreme People's Procuracy: from April 30, 2017 to May 19, 2017, Nguyen Viet Dung posted on his personal Facebook many articles that he himself composed, copied and used his personal opinions with content that falsely propagated the policies, guidelines and policies of the Party and State of Vietnam, defamed the people's government, distorted history, and defamed leaders in order to oppose the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Defendant Nguyen Viet Dung at the trial. Photo: Duc Vu

In addition, at Nguyen Viet Dung's private home, he also made, stored, and circulated four yellow flags with three red stripes (the flag of the collapsed Republic of Vietnam regime). Next, Nguyen Viet Dung hung the yellow flag with three red stripes at the Pac Bo historical site (Cao Bang province), the Independence Palace (Ho Chi Minh City) and at the Con Thai Son tourist area (Tien Giang province), then took photos and videos, then posted them on his personal Facebook page, shared them, and distributed them publicly on the Internet to oppose the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

At the trial, Nguyen Viet Dung expressed remorse and wished for a reduced sentence.

Comparing the aggravating and mitigating circumstances and considering the defendant's repentance and desire to reform and become a good person, the presiding judge sentenced defendant Nguyen Viet Dung to 6 years in prison for "Propaganda against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam" and an additional sentence of 5 years of local probation (1 year less in prison than the previous first instance trial).