Ostaran Times

[Hadash]

Ostaran Times

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Hôinôm: 1590 coup d'etat sentences reviewed by Imperial Decree
By: Muong Quang Viên
Published: Alvan, 1598


Lord James Lloyd-Jones, during happier times.

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Today it was surprisingly released an imperial decree signed by Empress Hông, in which the Hoinomese monarch pardoned several accused sentenced for the 1590 coup d'etat.

Such decree was rumoured and expected for months, but it was suddenly announced in the Imperial Bulletin, without previous announcement by the national government or suggested by any recent leaks. It is the second imperial decree of such characteristics following the amnesty given in which Alvan 1596, in which thousands of prisoners were given amnesty and released from jail, mostly for minor crimes and political sentences occurred before and during the Hoinomese civil war.

This imperial pardon, however, will only affect a small number of people. One of them is General Kiêu Công Trai who was sentenced to death by High Court of Hôi Luỳên for both his involvement in the 1590 coup d'etat and for his responsability in war crimes, between other charges. General Kiêu Công Trai received a partial pardon, being his sentence reduced for death penalty to life sentence. The imperial decree justified that change for his past contributions to the Hoinomese Armed Forces, but it is believed to be based in the fact that General Kiêu decided to surrender his troops following the Imperial Armed Forces victory in Hôi Luỳên, likely avoiding the Hoinomese troops to suffer thousands of loses in their march toward Vin Xuyên, where troops under General Kiêu's command were established at the time. Other two Hoinomese military officers received a similar reduction of sentence.

However, Prince Lâm Thành Thuân -who was rumoured to received a pardon- was not, an according to our sources, his sentence to death would remain unchanged by the decree. Unless there is a second imperial decree in the coming months, Prince Lâm Thành Thuân may become the first member of the Hoinomese royal house to be executed in modern history.

His sister Princess Lâm Thu Tuyêt, however, was pardoned in three of the five charges in which she was sentenced by the High Court of Hôi Luỳên. Therefore, her sentence will be reduced from 20 years in prison to 12 years. As she has already served three years in prison, that means that means that she may be released under probation or house arrest before five years, if a penal court gives its approval.

Her husband, James Lloyd-Jones, a Goldecian national, who was sentenced to 15 years in jail, saw commuted his whole sentence by the imperial decree and he could be released from jail in the coming hours. Lloyd-Jones, who is a minor member of the Goldecian royal house, according to a local newspaper, is likely to be immediately deported to Goldecia as soon as he is released.

However, the legal situation of the Lâm-Lloyd-Jones family is not likely to change. Two months ago, the Hoinomese parliament passed a law which established that individuals who were sentenced for charges which involved treason or conspiracy against the crown would automatically deprived of their children's custody. As consequence, Princess Lâm and James Llyod-Jones' three children are expected to remain in Hôinôm under custody of Empress Hông or other member of the Hoinomese royal family.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Quân Công Trai declared that the government may not fully agree with the imperial decree but they accept it as it is a constitutional competence of the Hoinomese monarch.