Hoang Van Vuong

Current Status: Sentenced to prison

Other Names: Hoàng Văn Vượng

Date of Birth: 1978

Gender: M

Ethnicity: Kinh

Last Known Prison: Prison No. B5, Dong Nai province

Areas of Activism:

Anti-corruption
Environment

Details

Immediate Concerns

August 2023:

Hoang Van Vuong, who was arrested by Dong Nai provincial police in January and held incommunicado, was put on trial in April without a lawyer and sentenced to five years in prison. Vuong’s family was not notified and only learned about it from Vuong when they were allowed to see him for the first time in May. Vuong was charged with “abusing democratic freedoms,” but it’s not clear what he was accused of doing since the trial took place in secret.

Background

Vuong previously worked for a sewage and water treatment company.

Photo source: Radio Free Asia

History of Activism

He is not known to have a formal history of activism, though our research shows he has been making online commentaries and protesting since at least 2011.

There are some claims that Vuong has been active in supporting the families of political prisoners.

Sentenced to 5 years in prison under Art. 331 (2015 Code). Expected Release is January 3, 2028.

Arrest January 3, 2023

Charges

Art. 331 (2015 Code)

Authority of Arrest

Location Gia Kiem commune, Thong Nhat district

Subsequent Events

April 18, 2023 - Date of trial

Court of First Instance

Defense Counsels

Sentence 5 years in prison

Expected Release January 3, 2028

Actual Release

Actions Taken By

Description

Details of Imprisonment

Vuong was arrested after being invited to his former workplace to allegedly receive a gift. His residence was also searched and electronics confiscated on the same day.

The arrest came after he had made two posts on his Facebook that seemed to criticize his former employer.

A source close to the family confirmed the arrest to The 88 Project and also told us that Vuong had recently also posted a Facebook post critical of the Communist Party.

Vuong’s wife has been able to send him supplies but not visit him.

Resources

Vietnam arrests activist who criticized employer on Facebook, RFA, January 4, 2023

Đồng Nai: Nhà hoạt động Hoàng Văn Vượng bị bắt giữ, chưa rõ cáo buộc, RFA Vietnamese, January 4, 2023

Nhà hoạt động Hoàng Văn Vương bị tuyên 5 năm tù, gia đình không hay biết, RFA Vietnamese, August 7, 2023

Profile last updated: 2024-06-13 20:34:07