Singers want apology not money from tycoon in alleged defamation case

Singer Vy Oanh attends a trial against businesswoman Nguyen Phuong Hang in HCMC, September 21, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Thanh Tung

Hang, the general director of the Dai Nam Joint Stock Company, stands trial at the Ho Chi Minh City’s People’s Court on Thursday, after she was arrested by Ho Chi Minh City police in March last year for "abusing democratic freedoms to infringe upon the interests of the State, and the lawful rights and interests of organizations and/or citizens."

She was accused of using different social media accounts to livestream and make allegedly false claims about various celebrities, as well as spread information related to celebrities' private lives.

In her videos, she said singer Dam Vinh Hung had not been transparent in distributing money he collected from others, and singer Vy Oanh had earned a huge amount of money after having a child with a rich man.

"My reputation, which I have built over the past 20 years, was damaged," Hung said at the trial of Hang at the HCMC People’s Court, stating that people were still attacking him on his social media profiles and accusing him of being not transparent in distributing charity money.

He added that he was willing to drop his request about financial compensation. He filed a request to the court before the trial, asking Hang to pay him VND43 billion ($1.8 million) as compensation.

"I’m willing to dismiss my compensation request, as long as Hang directly apologizes to me in court and in the media."

In a similar manner, Oanh said Hang’s speeches about her were groundless and caused her physical and mental repercussions. Hang’s words also affected Oanh’s family and children, the singer claimed.

"Please clarify matters related to me with an apology if possible," Oanh said in court. "I will request the court to reduce Hang’s sentence."

Business mogul Nguyen Phuong Hang at her trial on September 21, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Thanh Tung

Responding to the singers’ statements, Hang admitted that she was not unjustly prosecuted. However, she said she received many attacks and had to spend 18 months in custody, which was an "overly high price." Because of that, she did not agree to apologize to the singers.

"An apology is nothing," she said to the judge and trial panel. "But I was attacked as well, so I will not apologize."

Born Nguyen Thi Thanh Tuyen, Hang, 51, and her husband, Huynh Uy Dung, legal representative of Dai Nam company in the southern province of Binh Duong, are famous for their lavish lifestyles and philanthropy.

Her trial is being held by the HCMC People’s Court starting September 21. It is expected to last two days.