Vietnamese authorities have deported an American pro-democracy activist after detaining him for nine months on charges of attempting to overthrow the state, state media reported on Wednesday.
Nguyen Quoc Quan, who is Vietnamese origin and a member of the US-based Viet Tan Party -- which Hanoi views as a terrorist organisation -- was arrested on April 17 last year when he arrived in Vietnam.
Quan, 59, also known as Richard Nguyen, was due to go on trial earlier this month, Viet Tan told AFP at the time, but the proceedings were cancelled without an official explanation.
“Vietnam has expelled Nguyen Quoc Quan, who is an American citizen,” according to an online report on Vietnam News Agency late Wednesday.
“Quan admitted his crimes, asking for leniency so that he could go back to the United States and be with his family,” the report said, without adding further details.
Quan’s lawyer could not be immediately reached for comment, but Viet Tan spokeswoman Trinh Nguyen confirmed the release on Wednesday and told AFP Quan would soon land at Los Angeles airport.