HO CHI MINH CITY: A court in southern Vietnam jailed three bloggers yesterday for “anti-state propaganda”, including one whose case has been raised by US President Barack Obama, at a brief but dramatic hearing.
After a trial lasting just a few hours, high-profile blogger Nguyen Van Hai, alias Dieu Cay, was sentenced to 12 years in prison, while Ta Phong Tan, a policewoman-turned-dissident whose mother self-immolated to protest her detention, was given 10 years and led from court screaming.
“Their crimes were especially serious with clear intention against the state,” said Nguyen Phi Long, president of the court in Ho Chi Minh City.
He added the pair had “caused disorder” in the court and so were not allowed to make closing statements. “They must be seriously punished,” he said.
Phan Thanh Hai, the only one of the trio to plead guilty, was handed a four-year term.
Tan, whose mother died after setting herself on fire in front of a local authority building in July in a desperate protest against her daughter’s detention, was led out of the court wailing.
The 43-year-old, who was wearing a red T-shirt and looked calm but unhappy during proceedings, broke down after the verdict and was heard shouting “objection!” as she was escorted to a waiting car.
AFP
