William Anh Nguyen, 35, was found guilty of “causing public disorder”, a charge that carries a prison term of between two and seven years, according to Vietnam’s criminal code.

However, the court “acknowledged that the defendant sincerely admitted his illegal activities” and decided not to hand him a prison sentence considering the fact that he was a foreigner and first-time offender.

Nguyen will be released and “deported immediately” after his one-day trial ended on Friday.

The Houstonian reportedly expressed his love for Vietnam during the trial, and said in his final words that he still wanted to return to “contribute” to the country in the future.

Nguyen is an American citizen of Vietnamese descent who was born and raised in Houston, Texas, the U.S.

He was last month detained and placed under investigation by Ho Chi Minh City police for disturbing public order and accused of inciting violence during a protest in the southern metropolis on Sunday.

US citizen Will Nguyen (C) is escorted by policemen before his trial at a court in Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam July 20, 2018. Photo: Reuters

William Nguyen was among thousands who occupied several streets in Ho Chi Minh City on June 10 to protest a draft law on Vietnam’s new special economic zones, only one day after he had entered Vietnam on a visitor visa, according to the police.

Video evidence acquired by the police shows Nguyen joining a huge crowd marching streets connecting the downtown area with the city’s Tan Son Nhat International Airport.

Nguyen reportedly demanded that police vehicles, which were used as road blocks, be moved away so the crowd could proceed through a junction.

When his demand was not met, Nguyen climbed onto a vehicle and called for others to join him in breaking through the police line, police said.

In his indictment, Nguyen is accused of having planned to join protests in Vietnam before arriving in the country, and using his cell phone to film and upload videos of the event on social media.

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