Nghe An: Prosecuted 2 subjects for protecting rice harvesters

On June 19, Thanh Chuong District Police initiated a case, prosecuting Phan Van Sy (born in 1986, residing in Moi Hamlet, Thanh Nho Commune) and Nguyen Hung Cuong (born in 1975, residing in Hamlet 7, Cat Van Commune) for extortion.

Previously, Thanh Chuong District Police continuously received many complaints from rice harvester owners about being threatened by a group of people in Thanh Nho Commune and neighboring communes with weapons, demanding protection money, forcing them to harvest and pay them.

Two subjects protecting harvesters. Photo: Tan Ky

During the investigation, the identities of the subjects were clarified, in which Phan Van Sy and Nguyen Hung Cuong were identified as the two ringleaders.

The modus operandi of the subjects was to approach harvester owners from other places and then threaten and intimidate them. Many harvester owners, wanting to do business in peace, "paid tribute" to Cuong and Sy the amount of money that this group demanded, which was 2 million VND/machine.

On June 4, when Sy and Cuong were collecting protection money from the owner of NHH machine in a field in Thanh Chuong district for 1.8 million VND, they were caught red-handed by Thanh Chuong district police.

At the police station, the two subjects admitted their actions and stated that since the beginning of the rice harvest season until now, they have threatened and forced dozens of harvester owners to pay money. If the harvester owners did not agree, the two subjects would call their juniors to threaten and beat them.

Currently, Thanh Chuong District Police are completing procedures to handle the subjects according to legal regulations.