Prosecution and temporary detention of the 6th suspect in the case of Bong Lai Monastery

This is the 6th subject prosecuted in this case.

Subject Le Thanh Nhi Nguyen was prosecuted for the crime of "Abusing democratic freedoms to violate the interests of the State, organizations and individuals" according to the provisions of Article 331 of the 2015 Penal Code, supplemented and amended in 2017.

Previously, regarding Bong Lai Monastery, on January 3, the Investigation Police Agency, Duc Hoa District Police (Long An) issued a decision to prosecute the case of "Abusing democratic freedoms to infringe upon the interests of the State, organizations and individuals". Then, on January 5, the Investigation Police Agency, Duc Hoa District Police issued a decision to prosecute 4 suspects residing at Bong Lai Monastery, including: Le Tung Van (born in 1932); Le Thanh Hoan Nguyen (born in 1990); Le Thanh Nhat Nguyen (born in 1991); Le Thanh Trung Duong (born in 1995) was also charged with "Abusing democratic freedoms to violate the interests of the State, organizations and individuals" according to Article 331 of the 2015 Penal Code, amended and supplemented in 2017. At the same time, an arrest warrant was issued for the three defendants, including Le Thanh Hoan Nguyen, Le Thanh Nhat Nguyen and Le Thanh Trung Duong. In particular, defendant Le Tung Van was subject to the measure of being prohibited from leaving his place of residence (all decisions were approved by the People's Procuracy of Duc Hoa district).

At the end of February 2022, the People's Procuracy of Duc Hoa district decided to transfer the criminal case related to Tinh That Bong Lai, also known as Thien Am on the edge of the universe, to the Security Investigation Agency, Long An Provincial Police for investigation according to its authority.

Regarding the process of handling the case, Long An Provincial Police have announced a second extension of detention for the three defendants until June 3. On May 12, the Investigation Security Agency, Long An Provincial Police continued to issue a decision to prosecute and temporarily detain Cao Thi Cuc (born in 1960, residing in Hoa Khanh Tay Commune, Duc Hoa District, Long An), the owner of the land to build Bong Lai Monastery, also for the crime of "Abusing democratic freedoms to violate the interests of the State, organizations, and individuals" according to the provisions of Article 331 of the Penal Code 2015, supplemented and amended in 2017.

Authorities are continuing to verify, consolidate records, evidence, and prove the subjects' violations of the law to handle them in accordance with regulations.

The incident involving Bong Lai Monastery has attracted the attention of public opinion in recent times. On forums and social networking sites, the majority of opinions are indignant at activities that show signs of taking advantage of the form of home-based practice, raising orphans and disadvantaged children to call for charitable donations and taking advantage of democratic freedoms to infringe upon the interests of organizations and individuals... affecting security and order in the locality. The authorities of Long An province have received many complaints from organizations and individuals about the wrongdoings of some people living at this illegal place of worship.

According to Tin Tuc newspaper