The Vietnam Veterans' Association has made a significant request to the Lam Dong Provincial People's Court, urging it to declare six veterans not guilty of the charges related to forest destruction. This case has been a protracted legal battle that has lasted for over eleven years, during which the veterans have consistently maintained their innocence.

During the third appeal hearing on June 29 and 30, the court reviewed the case of these six veterans who have been fighting against accusations that have resulted in prison sentences ranging from six to seven months. Trinh Van Khai, a former chief of the Central Military Procuracy and representative of the Vietnam Veterans' Association, requested that the court annul the previous verdict and exonerate the veterans.

The case dates back to 2015 and has undergone multiple trials, including three first-instance hearings and three appellate hearings, yet the veterans continue to assert their innocence. The Vietnam Veterans' Association, along with the Dak Nong Provincial Veterans' Association, has taken a keen interest in the case, appointing legal representatives to defend the veterans.

Khai emphasized that the actions of the defendants were not for personal gain but were aimed at clearing disputed land to fund activities for their local veterans' chapter. He urged the court to consider the evidence carefully, as the prosecution's case lacks sufficient proof.

Throughout the hearings, inconsistencies in the evidence have been highlighted. For instance, initial reports from April 2015 indicated that 0.98 hectares of forest were destroyed, but subsequent documents presented conflicting figures, which raises doubts about the accuracy of the charges.

Khai argued that the initial expert conclusions used to prosecute the veterans were flawed and that the evidence did not support the claims of forest destruction adequately. He pointed out that the actions of the veterans did not constitute a criminal offense, as the area of forest involved was below the legal threshold for criminal liability.

The prosecution, however, maintained that the expert involved in the case was qualified and that the initial findings were valid. They recommended that the court reject the veterans' appeal and uphold the original sentences.

The court is expected to announce its decision later today, June 30. The case has drawn significant public attention, with many advocating for the veterans' rights and seeking justice in what they believe to be a miscarriage of justice.