Blogger Nguyễn Hữu Vinh (left) and his assistant Nguyễn Thị Minh Thúy at a trial in Hà Nội yesterday. — Photo thanhnien.com.vn |
HÀ NỘI — Blogger Nguyễn Hữu Vinh and his assistant Nguyễn Thị Minh Thúy were sentenced to five and three years in prison, respectively, on the charge of abusing the rights to democracy and freedom to infringe on the interests of the State and rights and interests of organisations and citizens, said a verdict at a trial in Hà Nội yesterday.
According to the indictment, Vinh, 60, launched the blogs “Dân Quyền” at diendanxahoidansu.wordpress.com, and “Chép Sử Việt” at chepsuviet.wordpress.com in September 2013 and January 2014, respectively.
The jury said that he had asked Thúy, 36, to release 24 articles containing groundless content on the websites that distorted Party policies and State laws, tarnished personal reputations and affected organisations’ prestige, presenting an one-sided and pessimistic view, and causing public anxiety.
Throughout the interrogation and arguments, both defendants denied the charges.
After considering the defendants’ testimony and lawyers’ arguments, the indictment and related evidence and documents, the judge council came to the conclusion that Vinh’s and Thúy’s actions constituted an abuse of their rights to democracy and freedom, in order to infringe on the interests of the State and rights and interests of organisations and citizens as stipulated in Clause 2, Article 258 of the Penal Code.
The council said the actions were dangerous to society and should be punished accordingly. — VNS