US man Michael Nguyen could face death penalty in Vietnam for ‘attempting to overthrow the state’ by travelling with activists
- Michael Nguyen’s family said he has been denied access to lawyers during his detention and insisted he is innocent
- Vietnam routinely jails its critics and is accused of tightening its grip on activism in recent years
A Vietnamese-American man charged with “attempting to overthrow the state” will go on trial in Ho Chi Minh City on June 24, his family said, and could face the death penalty if found guilty.
Nearly 130 prisoners of conscience are currently behind bars in the country, where independent media is banned and protests are illegal.
Nguyen was detained in July last year while travelling with two activists on a visit to Vietnam. The father of four young daughters could face the death sentence if convicted.
His family said he has been denied access to lawyers during his detention and insisted he is innocent.
“He is severely disadvantaged and unable to properly defend against any accusations against him,” said a statement from his family in the US.
His trial is set for June 24-25 in the southern commercial hub of Ho Chi Minh City, his family and a lawyer said.
The two activists arrested with Nguyen – Huynh Duc Thanh Binh and Tran Long Phi – will also go on trial with him, along with Binh’s father, who is accused of failing to report “criminal activity”, said Binh’s lawyer Nguyen Van Mieng.