A former police officer of a department under the Ministry of Public Security was sentenced to eight years in prison on charges of espionage and property plundering.

Nguyen Hoang Duong at the trial.—Photo thanhnien.vn

On Monday, Ho Chí Minh City People’s Court sentenced Nguyen Hoang Duong to seven years in jail for espionage attempts and one year for property plundering.

According to the indictment, from July 22-29, 2016, Duong had blackmailed his sister to get VNĐ100 million (US$4,500) but failed. He also texted his senior colleague for VNĐ10 million.

On September 18 that year, Duong was on leave but went to his office to make a copy of classified documents. He then illegally went to Cambodia for gambling.

On September 22, 29 and 30, Duong contacted the Chinese Embassy in Cambodia and Radio Free Asia in an attempt to trade the classified documents for money.

He was arrested on October 4. He admitted to stealing the classified documents to sell them for gambling money. 

Timeline:

September 22, 29 and 30, 2016: Duong used his email and cell phone to contact the Chinese Embassy in Cambodia and Radio Free Asia to provide them copies of secret documents in exchange of money for gambling.

October 4, 2016: Yang was arrested, and his attempt to sell classified documents was foiled. He admitted that he wanted to sell the classified information to foreigners to have money for gambling.

April 16, 2018: The defendant repented his act during the trial. Considering his behaviour, personal background and the consequence of his crime, the Trial Panel sentenced Duong to eight years imprisonment, lower than the Procuracy’s suggestion of 13-14 years for two crimes.

VNS