Ha Noi Peoples Court on Monday sentenced Cu Huy Ha Vu to seven years in jail on a charge of "conducting propaganda against the State of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam" pursuant to Article 88 of the Penal Code.
Ha Noi Peoples Court on Monday sentenced Cu Huy Ha Vu to seven years in jail on a charge of "conducting propaganda against the State of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam" pursuant to Article 88 of the Penal Code.
Vu, born in 1957, was also placed on three-years probation after he completes serving his sentence, which began when he was arrested on November 5, 2010.
According to the Ha Noi Peoples Procuracys indictment, from 2009 to October 2010 Vu had posted many writings and interviews on the Internet with content that went against the Socialist State. His posts distorted the Party and States guidelines and policies, defamed the Government and State institutions, and blackened the Vietnamese peoples resistance war.
During the trial, one of the four lawyers defending Vu was asked to leave for violating court regulations and the other three quit after their "baseless requests" were rejected by the jury.
Vu did not admit to the violations. However, after considering the evidence and testimonies, the jury concluded he was guilty.
The jury said Vus acts were dangerous to society and infringed upon the interests of the State and people. But, taking into account the outstanding contributions his family had made to the nation, the court arrived at a lenient sentence.
(Source: VNS)
