Authorities in southern Vietnam have charged the 92-year-old leader of a Buddhist community with incest. Evidence, including blood samples, was gathered from members of the church, as reported by state media.
Le Tung Van, from the Peng Lei House Buddhist Church in Long An province, has faced allegations of incest, fraud, and abuse of freedoms in the past. He was previously sentenced to five years in prison in 2022 for “abusing democratic freedoms.”
The provincial Security Investigation Agency initiated the new case following reports of Van’s alleged incestuous behavior, according to the Vietnam News Agency.
The new charge comes after two of Van’s defense lawyers were removed from the Ho Chi Minh Bar Association, a move that could signal further action against Van.
Despite his previous prison sentence, Van has not served time due to his advanced age and fragile health, according to an anonymous attorney speaking to Radio Free Asia.
The attorney also noted that the new charges announced on Friday seemed vague and relied on old evidence.
Police collected DNA samples from members of the Peng Lei Buddhist House Church multiple times, including taking blood samples under the guise of COVID-19 testing.
After a January 2022 search of the church, Van was charged with “abusing democratic freedoms” for exploiting religion and philanthropy for personal gain, according to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.
Although initially charged with incest and fraud, these charges were later dropped.
The complaint against Van reportedly came from the government-recognized Vietnam Buddhist Sangha and a member of the Sangha’s board of directors.
Vietnam has stringent laws regarding religious activities, requiring groups to be overseen by government-controlled management boards. The Peng Lei Buddhist House Church operates independently.
Defense lawyers seek asylum
Van was indicted in June 2022 for allegedly instructing others to create videos and articles insulting local authorities and the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha. He received a five-year sentence the following month.
Van has appealed his conviction and remains under house arrest. Authorities continue to investigate the incest allegations.
In October 2022, one of Van’s defense attorneys criticized the manner in which blood samples were taken from him and his family, citing procedural irregularities.
Van’s legal team has also raised concerns about authorities restricting access to their clients for meetings.
Last year, three defense attorneys for the church sought political asylum in the United States after facing legal repercussions in Vietnam. The Ho Chi Minh Bar Association recently revoked their membership.
The lawyers warned that this decision could lead to further actions against the accused members of the Peng Lei Buddhist House Church.
Attempts to contact Long An Police and the Peng Lei Buddhist House Church for verification of the reports were unsuccessful.
Translated by Anna Vu. Edited by Matt Reed.
