Vietnam: Three Defendants Appeal Drug Case Amidst Conflicting Indictments

Hanoi is set to hear the appeal of three young men, Trịnh Vũ Kiên, Kim Xuân Tuấn, and Nguyễn Quang Hưng, all 30 years old, in a drug-related case. The trio is accused of contributing funds for the purchase of illegal narcotics, though they claim to have withdrawn from the plan before its execution and never received the drugs. A significant point of contention in the case is the existence of two separate indictments with identical case numbers and dates, yet differing content. One indictment states that the main defendant, Thành, kept a portion of the drugs for personal use, while the other alleges he was holding them for the entire group. The defense argues that this discrepancy raises questions about the legality of the prosecution process. The defendants maintain they are not guilty, asserting their withdrawal from the plan prior to the crime's commission. However, the prosecution contends that their act of transferring money constitutes evidence of their involvement in the drug purchase scheme. In the first instance, the court ruled that the three were not guilty of illegal possession, as they had no direct contact with, possession of, or management of the drugs. Nevertheless, they were convicted as accomplices in Thành's drug trafficking case, receiving 24-month prison sentences for providing material support. The defendants argue this verdict contradicts the initial finding of no direct involvement. The appeal trial will examine these evidentiary discrepancies and the defendants' claims.