"Extreme elements" in Thai Binh sentenced after open trial

British Broadcasting Corporation
Source: Voice of Vietnam, Hanoi, in Vietnamese 1100 gmt 23 Jan 98

Text of report by Vietnamese radio on 23rd January

Voice of Vietnam radio reporter Hai Ngoc has reported from Thai Binh Province that on 21st-22nd January, the Thai Binh People's Court conducted an open court trial of a mob of rioters who caused disruption of public order and damaged citizens' properties.

A total of 13 defendants were detained while four others were set free on bail. These defendants were involved in a case of extreme elements causing disruption to public order in Thai Thinh Commune, Thai Thuy District, some time ago. The court handed down a six-month jail term to Ngo Thi Duyen for disrupting public order, but later pardoned her on the basis of her good cooperation during the prosecution process. Other defendants are: Pham Van Hai was sentenced to seven years imprisonment for three charges of disrupting public order, intentionally causing injury, and damaging citizens'property. Nguyen Van Huan was charged with the same three offences and was sentenced to five years imprisonment. Ha Van Viet was charged with four offences and sentenced to eight years in prison. Vu Hong Hung alias Duong gets seven years while other defendants including Luu Van Tru and Nguyen Xuan Du all get jail terms of over seven years.

This is a court case that the Thai Binh Province authority decided to conduct as an open trial in a bid to restore security and order in the province.