The Hanoi Court is set to announce its verdict today, September 14, 2026, in the case involving Nguyen Thi Binh, the former principal of Ba Dinh Secondary School. She is accused of unlawfully collecting fees of 15,000 VND per class for extra lessons, which has sparked widespread discussion about the legality and ethics of such practices in the education sector.

This appeal trial comes after both Binh and her former accountant, Pham Thi Minh Nguyet, filed appeals against their previous convictions. Binh was sentenced to 36 months in prison, while Nguyet received a suspended sentence of 24 months. The initial court ruling stated that Binh had abused her position, although the financial gain from her actions was deemed minimal.

During the two-day hearing on September 10-11, contrasting views emerged between the prosecution and the defense. The prosecution called for the annulment of the previous verdict and a retrial, while the defense lawyers argued for the annulment of the initial ruling and declared their client’s innocence.

New Developments in the Case

Lawyer Tran Hong Phuc highlighted two new developments that could significantly alter the case's outcome. The first is a recent conclusion from the Department of Justice, which deemed previous regulations regarding the collection of extra class fees as illegal. Following this, the Hanoi People's Committee issued a decision to revoke the earlier guidelines that had been used to justify the fee collection.

The second development involves a shift in Nguyet's appeal, where her lawyer now argues that she should not be found guilty based on the new legal interpretations. Phuc emphasized that without the previously cited regulations, the basis for claiming financial damages is invalid, thus questioning the foundation of the charges against both defendants.

Phuc further argued that even if procedural violations occurred, such as the lack of formal requests for extra classes, these should be treated as administrative infractions rather than criminal offenses. He contended that without demonstrable financial harm, the legal criteria for establishing a crime are not met.

As the trial concluded, Binh expressed her hope for a fair judgment, stating, "I just want the court to determine right from wrong. If I am guilty, I will accept any sentence, even the maximum." The court's decision is highly anticipated and could have implications for similar cases in the future.