March 1, trial of Han Ni and Tran Van Sy's case of insulting Ms. Nguyen Phuong Hang

On February 19, the People's Court of Ho Chi Minh City announced that it had issued a decision to bring the case of "abusing democratic freedoms to infringe upon the interests of the State, the legitimate rights and interests of organizations and individuals" by Dang Thi Han Ni (former journalist and lawyer) and Tran Van Sy (lawyer) to trial on March 1.

According to the decision, the case is expected to be tried in 1 day. The City People's Procuracy assigned 3 prosecutors to attend the trial.

Defendant Dang Thi Han Ni has 3 defense lawyers, defendant Tran Van Sy has 2 lawyers. The court also summoned defendant Nguyen Phuong Hang (General Director of Dai Nam Joint Stock Company, Binh Duong province, currently serving a 3-year prison sentence) to court as a person with related rights and obligations.

According to the content of the case, stemming from conflicts in Ms. Nguyen Phuong Hang's livestreams, the two defendants took advantage of their status as journalists and lawyers to collect information, edit content, record and take advantage of the cyberspace environment to post and broadcast many videos containing information related to personal secrets, family secrets and private life of Ms. Nguyen Phuong Hang in violation of the law; information with fabricated and untrue content, causing confusion among the people, insulting the honor, reputation and dignity of Ms. Nguyen Phuong Hang and Mr. Huynh Uy Dung; infringing upon the legitimate rights and interests of Dai Nam Joint Stock Company and Hang Huu Charity Fund (both of which Ms. Hang is the Director).

Defendant Dang Thi Han Ni recorded and posted online on September 3, 2021 with the title "Does Ms. Hang have the right to squat above the law?" to refute the incorrect content that Ms. Hang said about defendant Han Ni "blackmailing businesses", "being Mr. TTC's lover"...

Defendant Tran Van Sy recorded and posted on the following dates: August 15, 2021, August 29, 2021, September 5, 2021, September 10, 2021, September 19, 2021, September 24, 2021, September 28, 2021 and October 16, 2021, providing false information causing confusion among the people, infringing upon the legitimate rights and interests of Dai Nam Joint Stock Company; providing fabricated and untrue content that infringes upon the honor, reputation and dignity of Mr. Huynh Uy Dung; providing content that seriously insults the honor, dignity, reputation and dignity of Ms. Nguyen Phuong Hang...

During the investigation, the defendants Dang Thi Han Ni and Tran Van Sy did not admit that their actions violated the law. The Procuracy prosecuted the two defendants for "abusing democratic freedoms to infringe upon the interests of the State and the legitimate rights and interests of organizations and individuals", according to Clause 2, Article 331 of the Penal Code.