Ho Chi Minh City, Aug. 17 -- The People's Court of Ho Chi Minh City on August 17 opened the first-instance trial of 227 defendants in a drug trafficking case expanded from the March 2023 case involving four female flight attendants who were unwittingly used to transport drugs through Tan Son Nhat International Airport. Given the large number of defendants, the trial is conducted through a combination of in-person and online proceedings, at the court's headquarters and connected to Chi Hoa temporary detention centre. The trial is scheduled to run until September 12. More than 120 lawyers have been appointed to defend the defendants and protect protect their legitimate rights and interests, while 18 individuals with related rights and oblig...