Lê Tùng Vân (centre), at his first trial in 2022. VNA/VNS Photo Bùi Giang

LONG AN Lê Tùng Vân, a controversial figure running a self-proclaimed temple called "Tịnh Thất Bồng Lai", has been further charged by the Long An Police for committing incestuous behaviour.

Vân is currently incarcerated, having served a year out of his five-year sentence in prison for abusing democratic freedoms to infringe on the interests of organisations and individuals.

On Friday, the Long An provincial police investigation agency issued a decision to initiate a criminal case, charging Vân with incest.

Born in 1932, Vân is a resident of Lập Thành hamlet, Hòa Khánh Tây commune, Đức Hòa district, Long An Province.

Evidence gathered by the Long An provincial police suggests that Lê Tùng Vân engaged in incestuous relations with a blood relative at his residency in Lập Thành hamlet. 

Previously, the Long An provincial police received complaints from various sources regarding irregularities at the household of Cao Thị Cúc, which Tùng Vân and cohorts self-proclaimed as a temple named "Tịnh thất Bồng Lai". Nearly 10 years ago, Cúc brought many Buddha statues and worshipping items to her home, turning it into an unauthorised religious site. In 2015, Lê Tùng Vân, who then resided in District 6, Hồ Chí Minh City, moved in to live with Cúc.

The complaints alleged various misconduct, including profiting from home-based practices, exploiting charity opportunities and engaging in incestuous activities.

Earlier, on January 3, 2022, based on evidence of misconduct by temporary residents in Cúc's household, the police investigation agency of Đức Hòa district initiated an investigation against Vân's alleged wrongdoing. Cúc's house was raided by the police on January 4, 2022 to investigate related wrongdoings in charity donations.

After approval from the People's Procuracy, on January 5, 2022, the police investigation agency of Đức Hòa district charged six defendants for the crime of abusing democratic freedoms.

The trial for these defendants was held on July 21, 2022 by the Long An Provincial People's Court, sentencing Lê Tùng Vân five years in prison. Lê Thanh Hoàn Nguyên,  Lê Thanh Nhất Nguyên, Lê Thanh Trùng Dương received four-year sentences, Lê Thanh Nhị Nguyên was sentenced to three years and six months, and Cao Thị Cúc was sentenced to three years in prison. VNS