Man faces criminal proceedings for anti-State posts

The Investigation Security Agency of Can Tho city’s Department of Public Security has decided to commence criminal proceedings against a man from Hanoi for “abusing the rights to freedom and democracy to violate the interests of the State, the rights and legitimate interests of organisations and individuals.”

Le The Thang, 39, was granted bail, but prohibited from leaving his residential area to serve investigation.

According to investigation results, Thang and four others who had been arrested earlier, including Facebook user Truong Chau Huu Danh, 39, residing in Long An province, created a Facebook page named “Bao sach”.

Thang also owned a Youtube channel named “BS Channel” to post video clips and photos produced by his group – “Lam bao sach.”

The group published many articles about issues of public concern like the land dispute in Dong Tam commune, Hanoi’s My Duc district, drought in the western region and Vietnam’s rice export amidst COVID-19.

After Danh was arrested, the remaining members left the group. Thang directly removed the Facebook page and Youtube channel.

However, competent forces still stored 47 articles published by the group, which have violated the Law on Telecommunications and the Law on Cybersecurity, with distorted information inciting acts of sabotage, affecting the role, leadership and management of the State and authorities.

The defendants confessed that the information is inaccurate, causing misunderstanding among the public and eroding public trust in the Party and authorities.

Can Tho police proposed prosecuting Danh and the three others – Nguyen Phuoc Trung Bao, Deputy Director of FOCUS Business Communications Limited; Doan Kien Giang, born in 1985 and residing in HCM City, and Nguyen Thanh Nha, Director of FOCUS, for “abusing the rights to freedom and democracy to violate the interests of the State, the rights and legitimate interests of organisations and individuals.”/.