The Hanoi People's Court has scheduled the first-instance trial for Le Trung Khoa on december 31. This decision comes two days after the Supreme People's Procuracy indicted Khoa, 54, from Thanh Hoa province, who is currently wanted. He will face charges of making, storing, distributing, or disseminating information and materials against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, under clause 2, article 117 of the Penal Code.

Three other individuals, currently in detention, will be tried alongside Khoa on the same charges. They are Do Van Nga, 47, from Gia Lai province; Huynh Bao Duc, 41, from Ho Chi Minh City; and Pham Quang Thien, 47, a Hanoi resident and former director of the Multimedia Technology and Communications Center under the Government e-Portal.

The Hanoi People's Court has urged Le Trung Khoa to surrender and appear at the trial to exercise his right to self-defense.

Article 117 of the Penal Code outlines penalties for those who make, store, distribute, or disseminate information, documents, or items that distort or defame the people's government, fabricate content to cause public confusion, or incite psychological warfare. Such offenses carry prison sentences ranging from 5 to 12 years. Particularly serious cases are punishable by 10 to 20 years in prison, while preparing to commit this crime can result in 1 to 5 years of imprisonment.

Hai Thu