The convicted were Nguyen Thuong Cuc (alias Foshee Thuong Nguyen), 58, of American and Vietnamese nationalities; Huynh Bich Lien, 51, of American and Vietnamese nationalities; Cao Tri, 35, of Vietnamese nationality, a resident in the US; Le Van Binh, 31, of American and Vietnamese nationalities; Tran Dat Phuong, 65, of Vietnamese nationality; Ho Van Giau, 59, of Vietnamese nationality; and Ho Van Hien, 38, of Vietnamese nationality.

The judge ordered that Nguyen Thuong Cuc, Huynh Bich Lien and Le Van Binh to be expelled from Vietnam within 10 days of their release. The Vietnamese defendants were also sentenced to three years under surveillance by the local authorities after their release.

At the court, Nguyen Thuong Cuc and other defendants admitted that they took part in Nguyen Huu Chanh's organisation and pleaded guilty. They also admitted that Nguyen Huu Chanh's organisation had planned to bomb some places in Vietnam and the Vietnamese embassies in Thailand and the Philippines.

According to the jury and the indictment of the Supreme People's Procuracy, this was a serious case of terrorism which violated national security and involved many criminals with Nguyen Huu Chanh acting as both the mastermind and leader.

These defendants were members of the so-called "Free Vietnamese Government" organisation founded by Nguyen Huu Chanh on April 30, 1995 in the US.

Chanh sent home different teams to carry out different duties such as bombing, delivering leaflets, and smuggling devices into the country to storm radio waves, which were all acts of terrorism as stated in Article 84 of Vietnam's Criminal Code.

As Nguyen Huu Chanh is still at large, the Ministry of Public Security continues issuing an international wanted notice for him in accordance with the law.

Talking to the press after the trial, judge Vu Phi Long said the trial strictly observed the judgment principle of independence and abiding by Vietnam's laws.

Answering queries on sentences that the court had given to the accused, judge Long said that the judgment was made in accordance with the laws and the Party and the State's humanitarian policy.

VNA