Illustrative image (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The Hanoi’s People Court on March 11 sentenced Nguyen Viet Dung to 12 months in prison on the charge of “disturbing public order” under point d, clause 2 of Article 245 of the Penal Code.
On December 14, 2015, the People’s Court of Hanoi’s Hoan Kiem district convened the first instance trial for 30-year-old Dung from Hau Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district, central Nghe An province.
At the first instance hearing, Dung was handed down a 15-month sentence. Disagreeing with the judgment, he lodged an appeal to the municipal People’s Court.
According to the first instance verdict, Dung induced four of his Facebook friends to join about 40 to 50 others in an illegal parade around Hoan Kiem Lake ( Sword Lake ) on April 12, 2015. They allegedly disturbed public order with their presence and loud shouting.
Competent agencies requested they stop the gatherings, but they did not.
Many agencies, units and individuals around the lake raised petitions against this activity, saying it affected their daily lives, business and tourism.
The Hoan Kiem People’s Court stated that Dung incited his friends to parade illegally and summoned people at the public place without registering with the local People’s Committee as stipulated in State regulations.
Dung’s acts hindered Hanoi residents’ and domestic and foreign tourists’ travels, disturbed other activities around the lake, and affected social security and safety.
At the appeal court on March 11, Dung showed changes in his awareness, making the court consider decreasing his sentence from 15 to 12 months.-VNA
