Ho Dinh Cuong

On September 8, 2018, Cuong was arrested while complying with the Security Investigation Agency’s invitation to answer questions about his relationship with five other activists who had just been arrested. He was charged under Article 118 of the 2015 Penal Code for “disruption of security” and was detained at police station No.4, Phan Dang Luu Street, Ho Chi Minh City.

Cuong was not allowed to meet with his family until August 2, 2019, almost one year after his arrest. His wife said that Cuong’s health was not good because of alleged psychological torture.

October 2019:

Relatives of five detained members of the Hien Phap group were planning to sue the Ho Chi Minh City Police Department, alleging that their loved ones were arrested without warrants and held for many weeks in unknown locations before the families were notified. The five cases represented were those of Ngo Van Dung, Doan Thi Hong, Hoang Thi Thu Vang, Ho Dinh Cuong, and Tran Thanh Phuong. The families also said that they had not received notice on the various extensions of the fives' investigation periods. They had also not been permitted to meet with their lawyers and were only allowed to meet with their families for the first time in August 2019.

February 2020:

Eight activists were scheduled face trial by the People's Court of Ho Chi Minh City on March 10 on charges of "disrupting security" under Article 118 of the 2015 Criminal Code. The eight had been detained without trial for almost a year and a half. Authorities had already previously postponed the trial twice. The group of eight defendants included Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hanh, Hoang Thi Thu Vang, Do The Hoa, Ho Dinh Cuong, Tran Thanh Phuong, Ngo Van Dung, Doan Thi Hong and Le Quy Loc. 

July 2020:

After several postponements, on July 31, the People’s Court of Ho Chi Minh City sentenced eight defendants, some of whom are members of the Hien Phap constitutional rights group, to prison sentences ranging from two and a half years to-eight years on charges of “disrupting security.” The sentences were as follows:

• Ngo Van Dung: five years in prison and two years of probation
• Hoang Thi Thu Vang: seven years in prison and three years of probation
• Do The Hoa: five years in prison and two years of probation
• Ho Dinh Cuong: four and a half  years in prison and two years of probation
• Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hanh: eight years in prison and three years of probation
• Tran Thanh Phuong: three and a half years in prison and two years of probation
• Le Quy Loc: five years in prison and three years of probation
• Doan Thi Hong: two and a half years in prison and two years of probation

Family members and supporters were not allowed to attend the trial, and neither were US government representatives. One representative of the German Embassy was allowed to attend.

January 2021:

The court of appeals upheld the sentences of four activists alleged to be members of the Hien Phap (Constitution) group; they denied the affiliation at trial. They are Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hanh (eight years in prison); Ngo Van Dung and Le Quy Loc (five years each); and Ho Dinh Cuong (four years and six months). They were charged with “disturbing security”. Unlike the first trial, this time family members were allowed to observe the proceedings, albeit only via a video feed in the next room, due to the presence of the US Consul General in the courtroom.

April 2021:

On April 13, Ho Dinh Cuong was able to call his wife, Do Thi Be, to let her know that he was moved to Xuan Loc Prison in Dong Nai Province. She was allowed to visit him for the first time in 11 months since the pandemic. Be said her husband appeared healthy and was allowed to exercise every morning.