[JURIST] A Vietnamese court convicted three Vietnamese-born United States citizens for plotting "terrorist activities" [WP report] and ordered them deported from the country. Prosecutors said the three Americans, along with four other defendants, had plotted to drop leaflets, jam radio stations and plant bombs to protest the Communist-run government. In addition to deportation, the judge ordered 15-month prison sentences, but since the defendants have already been incarcerated for 14 months, they will be deported in December. Judge Vu Phi Long said the crimes deserved severe punishment, but the defendants deserved leniency because they had expressed remorse, had no previous criminal records and were politically naive.

Among those to be deported include Florida resident Nguyen Thuong Cuc, whose detention has been criticized by US supporters. Prosecutors believe the defendants to be supporters of Nguyen Huu Chanh [advocacy website; Wikipedia profile], a US resident and member of California-based advocacy group Government of Free Vietnam [advocacy website]. Chanh is currently being detained by South Korea and is awaiting extradition to Vietnam where he faces charges related to a plot to bomb Vietnamese embassies. The Washington Post has more.