The family of Nguyen Van Chuong, a 40-year-old labourer from North Viet Nam, has raised the alarm over his possible execution after they were asked on 4 August to report within three days to the People’s Court of Hai Phong city to make arrangements to receive Nguyen’s remains. However, the family was not given information on the set date for the execution.
Nguyen Van Chuong was convicted of robbery and the murder of a policeman in July 2007, alongside two others, and sentenced to death. Nguyen denies the charges and in letters to his family has said that he was subjected to torture and other ill-treatment while in police custody to make him “confess” to the murder. He alleges that he was stripped naked, hung and beaten during police interrogation. The authorities have reportedly denied his claims.
Additionally, state media reports have indicated that several people from his village were willing to testify that they saw him at the village at the time of the murder, 40 kilometres away from the crime scene. However, the Hai Phong City Court relied primarily on the police’s reports to convict him. United Nations safeguards guaranteeing protection of the rights of those facing the death penalty establish that this punishment can only be imposed based upon clear and convincing evidence leaving no room for an alternative explanation of the facts. Two of the witnesses from his village had also come forward and alleged they were physically abused by the Hai Phong City police and threatened.
In 2011, the Procurator General of the Supreme People’s Procuracy requested that the Supreme People’s Court quash the appellate criminal judgment and commute his death sentence. However, in December 2011, the Supreme People’s Court rejected the appeal.
The family of Nguyen Van Chuong and his lawyer have not been informed of the set date of his execution, despite being clearly told that the execution order has been confirmed.
Read our full media quote here:
Viet Nam: Man believed to be at imminent risk of execution in case beset by forced confession and torture allegations - Amnesty International
The family of Nguyen Van Chuong, a 40-year-old labourer from North Viet Nam, has raised the alarm over his possible execution after they were asked on 4 August to report within three days to the People’s Court of Hai Phong city to make arrangements to receive Nguyen’s remains. However, the family was not given information on the set date for the execution.
Nguyen Van Chuong was convicted of robbery and the murder of a policeman in July 2007, alongside two others, and sentenced to death. Nguyen denies the charges and in letters to his family has said that he was subjected to torture and other ill-treatment while in police custody to make him “confess” to the murder. He alleges that he was stripped naked, hung and beaten during police interrogation. The authorities have reportedly denied his claims.
Additionally, state media reports have indicated that several people from his village were willing to testify that they saw him at the village at the time of the murder, 40 kilometres away from the crime scene. However, the Hai Phong City Court relied primarily on the police’s reports to convict him. United Nations safeguards guaranteeing protection of the rights of those facing the death penalty establish that this punishment can only be imposed based upon clear and convincing evidence leaving no room for an alternative explanation of the facts. Two of the witnesses from his village had also come forward and alleged they were physically abused by the Hai Phong City police and threatened.
In 2011, the Procurator General of the Supreme People’s Procuracy requested that the Supreme People’s Court quash the appellate criminal judgment and commute his death sentence. However, in December 2011, the Supreme People’s Court rejected the appeal.
The family of Nguyen Van Chuong and his lawyer have not been informed of the set date of his execution, despite being clearly told that the execution order has been confirmed.
Read our full media quote here:
Viet Nam: Man believed to be at imminent risk of execution in case beset by forced confession and torture allegations - Amnesty International