Lê Đình Lượng seen in a trial held in August this year. — VNA Photo |
NGHỆ AN —The Hà Nội People’s Court on Wednesday upheld the 20-year prison sentence for a defendant found guilty of “trying to overthrow the people’s administration” two months ago.
The court held a trial in Nghệ An’s Vinh City for the appeal submitted by Lê Đình Lượng, born in 1965 and residing in Yên Thành District of the central province of Nghệ An.
Lượng was arrested in July 2017 on suspicion of conducting activities aimed at overthrowing the State. In the first trial in August, Lượng was sentenced to 20 years in prison and five years of probation.
The court concluded that Lượng was an active agent of the Việt Tân, which is listed as a terrorist organisation by the Vietnamese Government.
He operated in Nghệ An, Hà Tĩnh and Quảng Bình to lure Vietnamese citizens to join the organisation by posting and sharing stories advocating Việt Tân and its operation online, while also spreading inaccurate information about Việt Nam and the Communist Party of Việt Nam via social media.
He was found to have conducted many forms of propaganda against Việt Nam, and taken advantage of political events and sensitive issues to incite people to protest against the administration.
At the appeal trial, the judges found sufficient grounds to prove Lương was an active member of the Việt Tân, and he had engaged in propaganda activities designed to undermine national unity and the people’s trust of the Party and the State. — VNS