Then, on March 23, the bloggers were put on trial, accused of "abusing rights to freedom and democracy to infringe upon the interests of the state." Prosecutors said some of the articles on their site had "untruthful and groundless contents" that tarnished the country's image. Vinh was sentenced to five years in prison and his assistant to three years. Both insisted at the one-day trial they were innocent. The presiding judge thought otherwise, and said the articles they had posted "present a one-sided and pessimistic view, causing anxiety and worry, and affecting people's confidence" in the Communist Party and the government, and "go against the interests of the nation.