Appeals of Luu Binh Nhuong and Le Thanh Van: tense trial decides fate!

On the morning of May 15, the High People's Court in Hanoi opened the appeal trial for defendants Luu Binh Nhuong (62 years old), Le Thanh Van (61 years old), both former National Assembly deputies, along with Nguyen Van Vuong (49 years old), former specialist of the Legal Department - Office of the President.

The trial was held at the headquarters of the People's Court of Thai Binh province to consider the appeals: the injustice of defendants Le Thanh Van and Nguyen Van Vuong, and at the same time consider the appeal for a reduced sentence of defendant Luu Binh Nhuong.

The trial panel summoned 11 witnesses and the victi.m, Sao Do Construction Materials Exploitation and Trading Company Limited, to attend the trial.

The trial was presided over by Judge Pham Van Nam, who directed the entire trial process.

At the trial, only one witnes.s was present, while the rest submitted requests for trial in absentia.

In addition to the lawyers invited by the defendants, the Court also appointed additional defense lawyers for the defendants Luu Binh Nhuong, Le Thanh Van and Nguyen Van Vuong to ensure their legal rights and that the trial process is conducted fully and in accordance with the law.

During the trial proceedings, the three defendants Luu Binh Nhuong, Le Thanh Van and Nguyen Van Vuong all refused the court-appointed lawyers on the grounds that they already had their own lawyers to protect their rights.

As for defendant Le Thanh Van, all four lawyers that the defendant invited were not present at the trial. Along with refusing the appointed lawyer, this defendant requested to postpone the trial.

The panel of judges emphasized that this trial had been postponed once before. At the same time, the court had appointed defense lawyers for the defendant Le Thanh Van, so the absence of the defendant's four lawyers did not affect the trial process.

The representative of the Procuracy also said that the court-appointed lawyers were present and requested that the trial continue as planned.

On January 13, 2025, the People's Court of Thai Binh Province issued a first-instance verdict against the defendants involved in the case. Defendant Le Thanh Van was sentenced to 7 years in prison for the crime of abusing his position and power to influence for personal gain. For the same crime, defendant Nguyen Van Vuong was sentenced to 14 years in prison, a higher sentence due to his more serious role and level of crime.

For defendant Luu Binh Nhuong, the court imposed a combined sentence of 3 years in prison for extortion and 10 years in prison for abusing his position and power to influence others for personal gain. Thus, the total sentence he must serve is 13 years in prison. This sentence is considered to accurately reflect the level of the defendant's violation of the law in the case.

In addition, in the same case, two other defendants, Pham Minh Cuong (nicknamed Cuong "Quat") and Vu Dang Phuong, were also tried and received corresponding sentences. Specifically, Cuong "Quat" was sentenced to 7 years in prison for extortion, while Vu Dang Phuong received a 6-year prison sentence for the same crime.

This case has attracted great public attention because it involves many defendants who hold positions and powers in the state apparatus, as well as serious violations of the law related to the abus.e of positions for personal gain. The sentences were issued to demonstrate the strictness of the law in handling violations related to corruption, and at the same time send a strong warning message to those who intend to abus.e their positions and powers to violate the law.

The appeal hearing in May 2025 is highly anticipated, as it will be an opportunity for the defendants to continue to present their arguments and review the first instance judgment. At the same time, the appeal hearing also contributes to perfecting the legal process, ensuring fairness and transparency in handling serious cases.

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