Trial of the "rescue flight" case: Many defendants burst into tears, asking the court to reduce their sentences

Many defendants in the "rescue flight" case burst into tears, asking the court for leniency.

The defendants at the trial. Photo: TRAN PHAN

On July 18, the Hanoi People's Court continued to try the "rescue flight" case. The trial gave time for the defendants and their defense lawyers to participate in the debate.

Former Deputy Minister of Health Secretary asks not to be sentenced to death

In this case, Pham Trung Kien, former Secretary of the Deputy Minister of Health , is the only defendant proposed to be sentenced to death for bribery. Kien is accused of taking bribes up to 253 times with a total amount of 42.6 billion VND, the most and also the most "blatant".

Defending himself in court, defendant Kien admitted his crime and apologized to the Party, the State, and the people. However, he still affirmed that he did not cause difficulties for businesses and did not force anyone to pay him money. Defendant Kien repeatedly affirmed that he did not have the authority to sign or not sign to approve the flight, nor did he have the ability to slow down the application review process or affect the business activities of businesses. "The time of the crime was when the COVID-19 epidemic was taking place. The defendant often accompanied the deputy minister on business trips to epidemic areas. He was caught up in the work and was not aware of his own actions. The defendant affected his family, and his family also agreed to actively remedy the consequences and fully return 100% of the money he had received..." Defendant Kien burst into tears, hoping that the court would grant him leniency and a prison sentence instead of the death penalty.

Another defendant also burst into tears, that is To Anh Dung, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, who was proposed to be sentenced to 12-13 years in prison for accepting a bribe of 21.5 billion VND. Like most defendants in the case, defendant Dung admitted his guilt, but asked for the context to be considered. This defendant affirmed that he always tried to implement policies related to citizen protection and disease prevention, and never had the idea of profiteering. Regarding receiving money from businesses, this defendant stated that it was due to respect and the desire to create conditions for them to implement soon according to the state's policy. "With the perception at that time it was simple, and at the same time because he did not work in economic management, he did not distinguish the boundary between the civil act of receiving money as a thank you and the criminal act," defendant Dung explained, at the same time saying that he had realized it clearly and was very regretful.

In addition to the two cases above, defendants Nguyen Hong Ha, former Consul General of Vietnam in Osaka (Japan); and Vu Hong Nam, former Ambassador of Vietnam to Japan, also cried when defending themselves. This group of defendants all admitted to accepting bribes, and asked for leniency in terms of the context, nature, and extent of their actions.

"I became a sinner of the city"

As one of the former officials who received the most bribes of VND25 billion, former Director of the Consular Department (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) Nguyen Thi Huong Lan was proposed to be sentenced to 18-19 years in prison. Defending herself, defendant Lan said that she always followed the principle of selecting qualified enterprises when participating in organizing flights, and created maximum conditions for citizens returning from abroad to ensure that no one was left behind.

"The defendant always considers citizens stranded and in difficulty abroad as relatives of her family, and needs to be supported to bring them back to the country as soon as possible and most effectively," the female defendant stated. According to the defendant Lan, citizen protection work has been carried out regularly and before the pandemic broke out. Therefore, the defendant Lan hopes that the court will not apply the aggravating circumstance of taking advantage of the pandemic to commit crimes. "Once again, the defendant apologizes to the people, apologizes to the people because the defendant's awareness was not complete about receiving gifts, so she received them from representatives of some businesses. The defendant hopes that the people will forgive the defendant," said the former female director.

Another defendant, former Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Chu Xuan Dung, was proposed to be sentenced to 4-5 years in prison for accepting bribes of more than 2 billion VND. This defendant admitted his actions, saying that it was "painful" to have to stand in court today. The former vice chairman affirmed that during the process of participating in the fight against the epidemic, he did not hesitate to do anything, from morning to night, and contributed a small part in controlling the COVID-19 epidemic in the capital. "Standing here today, I have become a sinner of the city, a sinner in the work of epidemic prevention..., a criminal. Taking advantage of the epidemic to commit a crime is an aggravating circumstance, very painful," defendant Chu Xuan Dung said and hoped to be granted leniency so that he could soon return to his family and continue to contribute to society.

Similarly, defendant Tran Van Tan, former Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Nam province, was recommended to be sentenced to 8-9 years in prison for accepting a bribe of 5 billion VND. The defendant said that in theory he was wrong and accepted responsibility; but in terms of emotion, he was only following a humane and humane policy and did not intend to cause difficulties, extort or impose any conditions.

The former vice president said that every time he met Nguyen Thi Thanh Hang (former deputy director of Bluesky Company, the person who gave the bribe), the defendant told her to take good care of the citizens and ask if anyone was infected, how they were eating, how they were brought to their place of residence; and also told her not to send him any more gifts. Therefore, defendant Tan hoped the court would consider mitigating circumstances and evaluate his sincere attitude in confessing so that he could receive the lightest possible sentence.

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