The Da Nang People’s Court on Aug. 7 handed down a sentence of 18 months’ probation to former chief inspector of the Ministry of Public Security, Major General Tran Van Thanh.

The Court, which opened hearings on Aug. 6, also charged Thanh with 36 months of police monitoring to begin after the probation period.

Dinh Cong Sat was sentenced to 12 months’ probation and 22 months’ monitoring; Nguyen Phi Duy Linh, received 36 months in prison, meanwhile Duong Tien was sentenced to time served, 17 months and five days, and released at the court.

Thanh and his accomplices were charged with “abusing freedom and democratic rights to infringe upon State interests, and rights and the legitimate interests of organisations and individuals.”

According to the indictment, from late 2006 to the second half of 2007, Thanh, Linh and Tien conspired to abuse freedom and democratic rights by providing Sat with documents of the Da Nang People’s Procuracy and other documents which contained untrue in formation about many of Da Nang’s leaders. Sat then lodged complaints against Da Nang officials, affecting security and social order, and the daily operations of State agencies and the people.

All these acts violated the State and individuals’ rights and legitimate interests, causing disorder in Da Nang and in some other locales before, during and after the Election day of the 12 th National Assembly./.