Facebook user Nguyen Lan Thang has been arrested.
Mr. Nguyen Lan Thang, 47 years old, was arrested on charges of engaging in acts against the State.
On July 5th, suspect Thang (residing in Thinh Quang alley, Dong Da district) was temporarily detained by the Security Investigation Agency of the Hanoi City Police for investigation into the crime of producing, possessing, distributing, or disseminating information, documents, or items aimed at opposing the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, according to Article 117 of the Penal Code.
The procedural decisions have been approved by the Hanoi People's Procuracy. The alleged violations have not yet been disclosed.
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Suspect Nguyen Lan Thang. Photo provided by the police. |
The suspect Thang's Facebook account has over 150,000 followers and has recently posted articles related to various issues. This afternoon, the account was still open.
According to Article 117, anyone who commits any of the following acts aimed at opposing the State shall be sentenced to imprisonment for 5-12 years: Making, possessing, distributing, or disseminating information, documents, or items containing content that distorts or defames the people's government, or contains fabricated content that causes public panic or engages in psychological warfare. In particularly serious cases, the penalty is imprisonment for 10-20 years.
Those who prepare to commit this crime will be sentenced to 1-5 years in prison.
