The son of a U.S. citizen of Vietnamese origin sentenced to 14 years in prison on Wednesday on subversion charges said he will file an appeal with authorities to request the release of his mother.
Phan Thị Dao, 62, and who goes by the name Phan Angel in the United States, was sentenced to 14 years in prison on charges of engaging in “activities to overthrow the people’s government.”
She has lived in San Diego, California, with her son since 2002 when he sponsored her to come to the U.S., and has made a living as a bridal gown seamstress.
Her son Tommy Le told RFA’s Vietnamese Service that his mother traveled to Vietnam in March 2017 to take care of her dying mother and buried her after she died. Then on April 27 of the same year, authorities arrested Phan on subversion charges.
“The family really doesn’t know how severe the situation is,” Le said. “My mother is elderly, and the sentence is unjustifiable.”
“I just want to request a lighter sentence so that she is expelled and sent back to the U.S.,” he said, adding that he will have lawyers file an appeal within 15 days of Wednesday’s ruling.
“She was so firm; even in court she was as firm as usual,” he said, adding that his mother would not admit to the false chanrge.
A representative from the U.S. consulate in Ho Chi Minh City has been visiting Phan twice a month since her arrest, while she has been imprisoned at Phan Dang Luu detention center, Le said.
“The lawyer from the U.S. consulate does not know what to do about her case,” he said.
Some of Phan’s relatives recently went to see her, but she had been abruptly transferred to Chi Hoa Prison, and authorities said Phan could have no more visitors.
Le said someone named Janet Nguyen sent emails about his mother’s arrest to a U.S. congressional representative from his district, but she did not receive a response.
Nguyen stopped sending the requests, however, because she thought that the representative could do nothing to help Pham, he said.
Le said that his mother’s case is not the same as that of William Nguyen, a 32-year-old graduate student of Vietnamese descent from Houston, Texas, found guilty in July of “disturbing public order” for taking part in rare, large-scale protests over government plans to grant long-term leases to foreign companies operating in special economic zones. A Vietnamese court ordered his deportation to the U.S.
“Will Nguyen’s case is different because he participated in the protests,” Le said. “His case is not ‘subversion’ as is my mother’s case, and so the manner of prosecution is also different.”
“U.S. intervention depends on the charges,” he said. “My mother’s case falls under ‘activities to overthrow the government,’ so the U.S. can only get assurances for her health and security, [but] the legal procedures must be according to Vietnamese law.”
Reported by RFA’s Vietnamese Service. Translated by Gia Minh. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
Captain Kurt...beep beep...Scotty, beam me up, there is no intelligent life down here!
Another uneducated filthy infiltrator spewing his kindest regards to the world!
Via yours comments we can clearly judge the hatred cultures that brought up you goons.
Plz, I know it hard for you to do, but think twice before you post comments.
Aug 24, 2018 10:54 AM
Vietnam needs to get tough with traitors, and especially US citizens , they needs to be in prisons for a long time. Dogs VNCH will still bark but who cares and USA can't do anything but more barkings like dogs.
Aug 24, 2018 12:40 AM
Ahh, ya’r back (ugggh)!
Wagging your snake tongue and spewing poison as usual; with regular dose of absurdity.
You’re confused again, this isn’t VNmese communist ‘stump trial’. Again; jot this down and offer it as a burnt offering in Ho’s altar; perhaps – somehow, this will seep into his followers’ brain (i.e. you), one is innocent until proving guilty in this country and everyone deserves a fair trial.
Mrs. P.T.D. hasn’t been put on trial and yet the blood-thirsted goons are already labeling her and throwing away a key.
Is this justice?
The goons ‘stump trial’ is rigged and a shameful debauchery.
I hope you inform the goons back in VN to build more and bigger jails for they will be needed.
BTW, they will gain a lot of weighs so it'll be nice to also have an exercise facility so you don't have to criticize their physical appearance. As if you look any better!
Aug 23, 2018 11:21 AM
