This marks the second conviction for Van, who was previously sentenced to five years for “abusing democratic freedoms to infringe upon the interests of the State and the lawful rights and interests of organizations and individuals.” The total prison sentence he must serve is now eight years.

The trial was conducted behind closed doors, with security tightened from early morning. Only those with court summons were allowed entry. Despite Van submitting a request to be absent due to health concerns, the court proceeded as scheduled.

Criminal background and evidence

According to the indictment, between 1973 and 1988, Le Tung Van lived with Cao Thi Cuc (65) and a woman identified as L.T.V. (deceased) in District 6, Ho Chi Minh City. He later relocated with several individuals to Pham Van Hai commune in Binh Chanh District.

During this period, Van had six children with L.T.V., including a daughter named L.T.K.D. (now 32), and two children with Cuc, including another daughter, L.T.H.T. (also 32). These individuals referred to Van as "teacher" and called themselves his disciples.

Investigators confirmed that Van knowingly engaged in sexual intercourse with both K.D. and H.T., despite being aware that they were his biological daughters. As a result, K.D. gave birth to two children in 2014 and 2015, and H.T. gave birth to one child in 2014.

In December 2020, Van, along with his sons Le Thanh Hoan Nguyen, Le Thanh Nhat Nguyen, Le Thanh Trung Duong, and Cuc, forged contracts labeled as “sperm donation agreements” dated back to 2014 in an attempt to fabricate legal origins for the children and mislead authorities.

However, investigations found that neither K.D. nor H.T. underwent artificial insemination procedures at any domestic or international medical facilities between 2011 and 2014. DNA tests confirmed that Van is the biological father of all three children.

Despite evidence of others helping conceal the crime, the authorities found insufficient grounds to charge them as accomplices. Specifically, there was no conclusive proof that K.D. and H.T. knew Van was their biological father, so they were not held criminally responsible.

Additionally, with L.T.V. deceased and no grounds to establish Cuc’s direct involvement in the incest acts, she was also not prosecuted. Although Hoan Nguyen, Nhat Nguyen, Trung Duong, and Cuc were involved in discussing and drafting the forged contracts, investigators determined there was not enough evidence to classify them as co-conspirators.

Tuan Kiet