HCMC – The Supreme People’s Procuracy has confirmed that its appeal against the court’s ruling in the Ho Duy Hai case was legitimate, while the National Assembly (NA) has assigned professional agencies to study the case and present solutions.
Speaking at a press briefing for the opening of the ninth session of the 14th National Assembly on May 18, NA Secretary General Nguyen Hanh Phuc noted that over the past few years, Hai’s family has repeatedly lodged appeals, drawing the attention of the public and foreign organizations.
The NA Standing Committee has assigned professional agencies to propose suitable solutions for the case in line with prevailing regulations, Phuc stated.
Earlier, NA Delegate Truong Trong Nghia stressed that due to the disruption of the lives of the victims and the accused, it is necessary to reinvestigate the case fairly and issue sentences for the right parties.
Nghia pointed out that the incorrect convictions of Nguyen Thanh Chan, Huynh Van Nen and other individuals were based on testimonies and circumstantial evidence.
In line with the regulations of the Penal Code, a verdict must be based on adequate evidence and objectivity. Moreover, the verdict must be uncontroversial. However, in the Hai case, the testimonies and circumstantial evidence did not match, remarked the NA delegate.
On the same day, Prosecutor General of the Supreme People’s Procuracy Le Minh Tri told a meeting that several details and contradictions in the case have yet to be clarified. Aside from this, some shortcomings have been found in the presentation of the case. In accordance with the criminal procedural code, a cassation trial is needed.
Tri appealed the court’s verdict, asking for a careful reinvestigation as no clear evidence had been presented to determine that the defendant had committed murder.
He insisted that the Supreme People’s Procuracy’s appeal be held in line with regulations.
Earlier, on January 14, 2008, two female employees of the Cau Voi Post Office in Long An Province were found dead at their workplace, Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper reported.
Two months later, Hai was arrested and charged with murder and robbery and was given the death penalty.
On October 24, 2011, the Supreme People’s Procuracy issued a decision barring an appeal of the verdict, while the Long An court confirmed that it would start enforcing the sentence.
However, on December 4, 2014, the State President office announced that it had received a petition from Hai’s mother, requesting a stay of execution.
The Supreme People’s Procuracy on November 22, 2019, filed an appeal for a cassation trial for the case.
On May 8, the Supreme People’s Court’s judicial council rejected the appeal of the Supreme People’s Procuracy as illegal, citing the State President’s rejection of the appeal of Hai’s family. Accordingly, the court upheld Hai’s death sentence.
