Defendant Hoang Van Hung stated the reason for changing the appeal.

The reason defendant Hoang Van Hung changed his appeal

Before the appeal hearing took place, defendant Hoang Van Hung (former investigation officer of the Ministry of Public Security) changed his appeal from claiming innocence to asking for a reduced sentence. In addition, defendant Hung voluntarily influenced his family, relatives, and friends to compensate the defendant for the entire amount of 800,000 USD (18.8 billion VND) to remedy the consequences of the case.

At the appeal hearing, defendant Hung affirmed that the reason he changed his appeal from claiming innocence to admitting guilt and asking for a reduced sentence was because he had changed his perception since the end of November 2023. Defendant Hung himself realized that he was very regretful and heartbroken about his behavior of accepting money to "fix the case" and affirmed that his family and relatives had paid back the amount of 18.8 billion VND on his behalf to remedy the consequences. Defendant Hung hoped that the Appellate Court would re-evaluate the entire content of the case to make a reasonable judgment for the defendant so that he could soon return to his family and society.

Defendant Hung pleaded guilty as determined by the first instance verdict and said that he was a former party member and police officer, so the violation was regrettable and heartbreaking. "Regardless of the cause or reason for the crime, I feel guilty and will comply with all the decisions of the appellate court," said defendant Hung.

The presiding judge of the appeal court acknowledged this testimony and announced that the defendant Hung's admission of guilt and his family's payment of all compensation for the consequences would be considered a new circumstance for the appeal court to consider and evaluate.

Previously, during the first instance trial, defendant Hoang Van Hung always denied the indictment, saying that he did not receive a particularly large amount of money from the defendants related to this case.

According to the first instance verdict, Hoang Van Hung, a former investigation officer of the Ministry of Public Security, was assigned to investigate the "rescue flight" case from January 28, 2022. In September 2022, Hung was transferred to another job but still provided false information to defraud money from Le Hong Son and Nguyen Thi Thanh Hang (General Director and Deputy General Director of Blue Sky Company) through Nguyen Anh Tuan, then Deputy Director of Hanoi City Police.

At the end of the first instance trial, the Hanoi People's Court affirmed that although Hoang Van Hung did not admit guilt, there was sufficient evidence to determine that Hung had fraudulently appropriated property worth 800,000 USD (equivalent to 18.8 billion VND). The Court decided to sentence Hoang Van Hung to life in prison for the crime of "Fraudulent appropriation of property".

Blue Sky Company's General Director and Deputy General Director refused to take back $800,000 "fixing the case"

Presenting at the appeal hearing, defendant Nguyen Thi Thanh Hang (Deputy General Director of Blue Sky Company) requested to change part of the appeal content. Specifically, defendant Hang requested to withdraw the appeal regarding the content requesting the Court of Appeal to order defendant Hoang Van Hung (former police officer) to return the amount of 800,000 USD (equivalent to 18.8 billion VND) that defendant Hung had defrauded and appropriated.

In addition, defendant Hang maintained her appeal for a reduced sentence. Defendant Hang said that she and her husband are currently being treated for serious illnesses and their prognosis is worsening. Defendant Hang has submitted her medical records to the Trial Panel. Defendant Hang also presented other details, including that her family has contributed to the revolution, hoping that the Appeal Trial Panel would consider and accept her appeal.

Before the witness stand, defendant Le Hong Son (General Director of Blue Sky Company) also maintained his appeal for a reduced sentence and changed part of the appeal content. Specifically, defendant Son requested to withdraw the appeal content, requesting the Court of Appeal to order defendant Hung to return the amount of money he had defrauded and appropriated, more than 18.8 billion VND.

Presenting his mitigating circumstances, defendant Son hoped that the Appellate Court would acknowledge his contribution in bringing citizens back to the country during the pandemic. In addition, the defendant had achievements in labor production, contributed to society, and his family had contributed to the revolution...

Also before the witness stand, other defendants who appealed hoped that the Appellate Court would consider and reduce their sentences so that the defendants could soon return to their families and society.