Vietnamese students sentenced over internet sex clip

 The People's Court of Hanoi handed down the sentences after a half-day trial Monday, the website VietNamNet said.

The longest sentence went to Nguyen Huu Tai, 24, a student at a Hanoi technical school called FPT-Arena College.

Vo Thanh Hiep, also of FPT-Arena College, and Vu Thi Thuy Linh of Thang Long University were sentenced to 24 months of probation each while Nguyen Thu Linh of the London Fashion School was sentenced to 20 months of probation.

The four were arrested in October on charges of disseminating debauched cultural products and held for 10 days before being released pending trial.

The 16-minute clip, featuring Hoang Thuy Linh and her boyfriend Vu Hoang Viet, began its journey to notoriety on October 16 when Viet lent his computer to one of his student friends, police said.

The clip circulated widely via e-mail and was eventually edited and posted on Vietnamese websites.

Hoang Thuy Linh's TV show, Vang Anh's Diary, was cancelled shortly after the clip was posted on the internet.

She played an earnest schoolgirl in the popular show, which attracted audiences of millions of young viewers. Youth and parents saw her as a good example for Vietnamese school students nationwide.

According to Vietnam's Penal Code, disseminating debauched cultural products is subject to prison terms of up to 15 years plus a cash fine of up to 30 million dong (1,870 dollars).//DPA - June 9, 2008