Defendant Truong Huy San received 30 months in prison for abusing democratic freedoms.

On February 27, the Hanoi People's Court opened a first-instance trial and sentenced defendant Truong Huy San (born in 1961, residing in Ward 14, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City) to 30 months in prison for the crime of "Abusing democratic freedoms to infringe upon the interests of the State, the legitimate rights and interests of organizations and individuals" as prescribed in Clause 2, Article 331 of the Penal Code.

The trial panel consists of three people: One judge presiding over the trial and two people's assessors. Two prosecutors are assigned to exercise the right to prosecute and supervise the first instance trial at the trial.

Previously, a lawyer had registered to defend the legal rights and interests of defendant Truong Huy San. During the preparation phase for the trial, the defendant’s family invited another defense lawyer, bringing the total number of defense lawyers for defendant Truong Huy San to two.

According to the indictment of the Supreme People's Procuracy announced at the trial, from 2015 to 2024, Truong Huy San collected information, documents, drafted and posted on his personal Facebook "Truong Huy San (Osin Huy Duc)" many articles, including 13 articles with content that infringed upon the interests of the state, the rights and legitimate interests of organizations and individuals. These articles had a large number of interactions, comments and shares, causing negative impacts on security, order and social safety, so it is necessary to handle them according to the provisions of law.

At the trial, defendant Truong Huy San stated that the Facebook page “Truong Huy San (Osin Huy Duc)” was created, managed and used by the defendant, and that he did not share administrative rights with anyone else. The defendant posted all articles on his personal Facebook page, and the information source for the articles was collected and evaluated by the defendant himself. When posting these articles, the defendant did not intend to oppose the Party or the State.

However, the defendant admitted that in the 13 articles mentioned above, there were some contents that infringed upon the interests of the State and the rights and legitimate interests of some organizations and individuals. Defendant Truong Huy San said that he was very sorry and would take responsibility before the State agencies and organizations and individuals affected by his articles.

On that basis, defendant Truong Huy San admitted that his actions violated Article 331 of the Penal Code and agreed with the charge that the Supreme People's Procuracy prosecuted him for "Abusing democratic freedoms to infringe upon the interests of the State, the rights and legitimate interests of organizations and individuals".

In his final statement in court, defendant Truong Huy San expressed his awareness of his illegal behavior and hoped the Trial Council would consider reducing his sentence so that he could participate in social activities.