Hanoi (VNA) – A 69-year-old man in Hanoi was sentenced to five years and six months in prison for anti-State propaganda by the municipal People’s Court on July 9.
Pham Chi Thanh, residing in Dong Tam ward of Hai Ba Trung district, was found guilty of “creating, storing, distributing, or spreading information, documents against the State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam” under Clause 1 of Article 17 in the 2015 Penal Code.
The indictment by the Hanoi People’s Procuracy said that in around February 2012, Thanh started a blog named “Ba Dam Xoe” to post his writings. In mid-2014, he opened a Facebook page named “Pham Thanh” and continued posting many articles on different websites.
In July 2019, he gathered the writings earlier posted on the internet in a book and then distributed it.
The 21 articles in this book contained fabricated information distorting and defaming the people’s administration.
Thanh also repeatedly gave interviews about his book’s distribution to foreign media outlets and some individuals in the country. Those interviews were posted on the internet and Facebook.
He distributed more than 220 copies of the book, including 194 delivered to others in Vietnam and abroad via the post. He also sold and presented some to other individuals.
From September 13, 2019 to May 21, 2020, Thanh gained more than 80 million VND (nearly 3,500 USD at the current exchange rate) from the book’s distribution, with most of the money transferred to his bank account. After deducting costs, he earned over 18 million VND, according to the indictment./.
Pham Chi Thanh, residing in Dong Tam ward of Hai Ba Trung district, was found guilty of “creating, storing, distributing, or spreading information, documents against the State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam” under Clause 1 of Article 17 in the 2015 Penal Code.
The indictment by the Hanoi People’s Procuracy said that in around February 2012, Thanh started a blog named “Ba Dam Xoe” to post his writings. In mid-2014, he opened a Facebook page named “Pham Thanh” and continued posting many articles on different websites.
In July 2019, he gathered the writings earlier posted on the internet in a book and then distributed it.
The 21 articles in this book contained fabricated information distorting and defaming the people’s administration.
Thanh also repeatedly gave interviews about his book’s distribution to foreign media outlets and some individuals in the country. Those interviews were posted on the internet and Facebook.
He distributed more than 220 copies of the book, including 194 delivered to others in Vietnam and abroad via the post. He also sold and presented some to other individuals.
From September 13, 2019 to May 21, 2020, Thanh gained more than 80 million VND (nearly 3,500 USD at the current exchange rate) from the book’s distribution, with most of the money transferred to his bank account. After deducting costs, he earned over 18 million VND, according to the indictment./.
VNA
