Court denies Thêu appeal

December 01,monterrey w 2016 - 09:00

The Hà Nội People’s Court yesterday upheld 20-month jail term for Cấn Thị Thêu from Hà Đông District on charges of “causing public disorder” under Article 245 of the Penal Code.

The Hà Nội People’s Court yesterday upheld a 20-month jail term for Cấn Thị Thêu from Hà Đông District on appeal. — VNA/VNS Photo Doãn Tấn

HÀ NỘI – The Hà Nội People’s Court yesterday upheld a 20-month jail term for Cấn Thị Thêu from Hà Đông District on appeal.

On September 20, Thêu was sentenced to 20 months in jail by Đống Đa District People’s Court, charged with “causing public disorder”.

According to the indictment, on April 8, Thêu and some other people gathered in front of the Citizen Reception Office of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) on Nguyễn Chí Thanh Street with banners and placards.

At 11am the same day, she and her accomplices hung up the banners and placards, shouted and lay on the street, obstructing traffic. The traffic disturbance also hindered the operation of some MONRE offices and caused public disorder in the neighbourhood.

At court yesterday, Thêu’s lawyers argued that Thêu was not guilty and asked the court to immediately free her.

However, according to the Hà Nội People’s Court, the lower court ruling was appropriate as it correctly evaluated her crime while taking into account extenuating circumstances.

The court also said her laywers’ appeal against the lower court’s ruling was baseless.

The court added that Thêu was a repeat offender as she already had a previous conviction for opposing officials on duty and four previous offences of causing public disorder. That is why it was necessary to incarcerate her to isolate her from society for the sake of rehabilitation and deterrence, it said. – VNS