Law breaker in Hue city sentenced to 15 years
The People's Court in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue handed down a 15-year imprisonment sentence to Nguyen Van Ly on October 19.
Ly was publicly tried for "defying the probation decision by the competent State agency" and "undermining the unity policy" in pursuance to Article 269 and Article 87 of the Criminal Code of Vietnam.
According to the verdict by the Thua Thien-Hue provincial People's Procuracy, Ly committed a number of law violations, sowing the seeds of division among religious believers and disrupting the social order, security, and peaceful life of local people in Nguyet Bieu parish, Hue city, from November of 2000.
On February 5, 2001, leaders the Hue church decided to send Ly to Phu An commune's An Truyen parish in Phu Vang district where he served as an administrator. Ly continued his anti-government activities, committing more serious violations of law, inciting religious believers to cause social disorder, preventing local people from fulfilling their obligations, and undermining the unity policy of the entire people.
Consequently, the People's Committee of Thua Thien-Hue province on February 26 issued a warrant, putting Ly on probation in Phu An commune so that he would have time to correct his wrong-doings. Instead of following the probation order, Ly continued his opposition, namely refusing a local summons and failing to present himself before the local administration as required. Nguyen Van Ly compiled and disseminated reactionary materials, distorting the truth, causing distrust and conflict between the local people and the administration with a view to sowing the seeds of division between the local religious believers and the administration and undermining the entire people's great unity policy of the State.
The court sentenced Nguyen Van Ly to two years imprisonment for defying the probation decision by the competent State agency and 13 years imprisonment for undermining the unity policy. In all, Ly has to serve 15 years in prison. Once completing his prison sentence, Nguyen Van Ly will serve another five years of probation at his residential area.
The court reflected the strictness of Vietnamese law and received support from the local people. (VNA)
