Model Ngoc Trinh receives suspended sentence for motorbike stunts

The judge panel said Trinh had a good record, been remorseful since she was arrested three months ago, and the consequence of her actions were limited.

Trinh, charged with “disrupting public order,” was set free after the trial at the HCMC People’s Court, with a two-year probation.

Tran Xuan Dong, 36, her motorbike instructor, was sentenced to one year imprisonment for disrupting public order and six months for fabricating seals and documents.

According to the indictment, Trinh and Dong performed stunts on a large-displacement motorbike without appropriate licenses in public in Thu Duc City on Oct. 6 last year.

Trinh performed the stunts without protective equipment and rode the vehicle in “inappropriate” positions, including standing on one side of the vehicle and driving with no hands.

They recorded the stunts and posted five videos on several social media platforms including TikTok and Facebook. They got over 163 million likes and comments in less than one month.

The two defendants were arrested on Oct. 19 last year.

During the investigation, Dong said he knew the vehicles’ registrations were fake, but bought them because they were cheap.

Questioned by the court on Friday, Trinh said she had asked Dong to be her instructor as she planned to apply for a license for driving heavy motorbikes.

“Dong chose vacant places for practicing, at 6-8 in the morning. I also saw many people practicing there,” Trinh said.

 

 

Model Ngoc Trinh receives suspended sentence for motorbike stunts

Ngọc Trinh hầu tòa

In her final statement at the trial, Trinh said she was always aware of having to follow the laws, but in “impulsive” moments, she violated the law without knowing.

“When I realized my wrongdoing, it was too late. This has been a big lesson for me,” she said, asking for a commuted sentence.

Her charge carries a sentence of two to seven years in prison.

Born in the Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh, Trinh began her career in 2005 and garnered attention with her lingerie and swimsuit photo shoots.