SAIGON, ACCUSED WAITING TO ENTER COURT, XUAN HOE, HUYNH VAN TRONG, PHAN NGHI, RELATIVES, INSIDE MILITARY COURT, JUDGES, ADVOCATES.




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Background: SOUTH VIETNAM'S BIGGEST SPY TRIAL IN WHICH 43 PEOPLE FACE CHARGES RANGING FROM HIGH TREASON TO ACTS HARMFUL TO NATIONAL SECURITY OPENED IN SAIGON ON FRIDAY (NOVEMBER 28).

THE MILITARY COURT TODAY (SATURDAY) SENTENCED FOUR MEN, INCLUDING TWO FORMER AIDES OF PRESIDENT THIEU, TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT WITH HARD LABOUR FOR TREASON.

THE BEST KNOWN ACCUSED WAS HUYNH VAN TRONG, 57, A SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO PRESIDENT THIEU UNTIL HIS ARREST LAST JULY. HE TOLD THE COURT THAT HE HAD GIVEN ANOTHER ACCUSED, VU NGHOC NHA, CONFIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS.

MR. NHA, 39, WHO CLAIMS TO BE A FORMER PRESIDENTIAL ADVISOR, ADMITTED TO THE COURT THAT HE WAS THE LEADER OF A COMMUNIST SPY RING IN SOUTH VIETNAM. HE SAID HE HAD BEEN ORDERED TO INFILTRATE SOUTH VIETNAM FROM THE NORTH IN 1955.

THESE TWO, AND TWO OTHER FORMER GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, WERE GIVEN LIFE SENTENCES.

THE 39 OTHER DEFENDANTS, WHO INCLUDED 13 WOMEN, RECEIVED SENTENCES RANGING FROM 20 YEARS HARD LABOUR TO THREE MONTHS IMPRISONMENT. TWO WELL KNOWN JOURNALISTS, PHAN NGHI AND CAO MINH CHAU, WERE TEMPORARILY RELEASED PENDING FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS.

THE ACCUSED WERE TRIED BY A MILITARY TRIBUNAL WHICH ALLOWS NO RIGHT OF APPEAL.