Hanoi (VNA) – The High-level People’s Court in Hanoion June 4 upheld the sentences for four defendants found guilty of “trying tooverthrow the people’s administration” at trial two months ago.

The court reviewed the ruling against Pham VanTroi (born in 1972 and residing in Chuong Duong commune of Thuong Tin district,Hanoi), Nguyen Trung Ton (born in 1972 and residing in Quang Yen commune of QuangXuong district, Thanh Hoa province), Nguyen Bac Truyen (born in 1968 andresiding in Ward 4 of District 4, Ho Chi Minh City) and Truong Minh Duc (bornin 1960 and residing in Vinh Thuan town of Vinh Thuan district, Kien Giangprovince).

The judges found that the defendants’ testimonybefore and after the trial was consistent and matched the evidence.Accordingly, Pham Van Troi, Nguyen Trung Ton, Nguyen Bac Truyen and Nguyen VanDai (born in 1969 and residing in Bach Khoa ward of Hai Ba Trung district, Hanoi)were the founding members of “Hoi anh em dan chu” (Brotherhood for Democracy),which was led by Dai.

This organisation was set up on April 24, 2013and was found to have conducted many forms of propaganda against the State ofVietnam, been connected with foreign organisations and persons to seek fundingfor its activities and taken advantage of political events and sensitive issuesto incite people to protest against the administration.

In the first trial in early April, Nguyen VanDai was sentenced to 15 years in prison and will be under house arrest for fiveyears after the prison term finishes. Pham Van Troi will spend seven yearsbehind bars and one year under house arrest. Nguyen Trung Ton and Truong MinhDuc received a jail sentence of 12 years and three years of house arresteach.  Nguyen Bac Truyen got an 11-year sentence and three years on housearrest. Le Thu Ha (born in 1982 and residing in Dong Giang ward of Dong Hacity, Quang Tri province), who was also involved in the organisation, willserve nine years in prison and two years house arrest.

Nguyen Van Dai and Le Thu Ha accepted theirsentences. Pham Van Troi also pled guilty but appealed for leniency and thethree others pled not guilty.

At the appeal trial, the judging panel foundthat the appeals filed by Nguyen Trung Ton, Nguyen Bac Truyen and Truong MinhDuc were groundless.

It added the seven-year imprisonment for PhamVan Troi is appropriate as the first-instance court already reduced hispunishment because he had given testimony sincerely, shown repentance and left“Hoi anh em dan chu” in May 2016.

The first-instance court made a preciseassessment of the case’s seriousness and the nature of each defendant’sbehaviour while fully considering aggravating and mitigating factors for eachdefendant, the judges noted.-VNA