Ngo Thanh Van is absent, Department of Information and Communications affirms that it will take strict action

Mr. Tu Luong - Deputy Director of the Department of Information and Communications of Ho Chi Minh City said that on the morning of February 6, Ngo Thanh Van continued to be absent from the working session with the Department. She sent a representative to attend.

In response to the reporter's question: "Is it considered evasive and uncooperative if an artist does not come to the Department?", Mr. Tu Luong said: "The Department acknowledges the presence of the representative. But the authorities suggest scheduling another working day with Ngo Thanh Van present. The Department will handle the case strictly and meet the right violator. In Ngo Thanh Van's case, I don't think she is evasive."

"We work with a spirit of love and reason, helping artists share and accompany the political system in preventing and fighting the epidemic, not causing panic and fear in society," he emphasized.

According to plan, Dam Vinh Hung and Cat Phuong will go to work at the Department on February 11.

On the morning of January 31, Ngo Thanh Van updated her status on her fanpage about the situation of airlines still having flights from Wuhan to Vietnam amid the Corona virus pandemic. Ngo Thanh Van's post was posted at a time when the Civil Aviation Authority had stopped granting permits for flights from Vietnam to Wuhan and vice versa. Therefore, Ngo Thanh Van received backlash from the online community.

The actress had to remove the status after 30 minutes of posting. She then apologized to everyone: "I'm just anxious and worried about everyone's general health. Sorry for this mistake. Everyone, please take care of your health and be careful."

Previously, on January 26, on Dam Vinh Hung's Fanpage, incorrect information was shared about two Chinese patients being treated at Cho Ray Hospital. Specifically, on the male singer's fanpage, it was stated that "two Chinese people infected with Corona virus died at Cho Ray".

Three artists who spread false news about the Corona virus were invited to work by the Department of Information and Communications.

On the same day, Cat Phuong also shared a link to an article about two patients being treated at Cho Ray Hospital with a prediction: "What can I say? Please think of the people first and think of yourself. The epidemic has reached District 1, then it will spread to District 3, District 5, District 7...". The fact that Ngo Thanh Van, Dam Vinh Hung, and Cat Phuong reported false news during the Corona virus pandemic received a lot of anger from the audience.

Lawyer Pham Hoai Nam (Liberation Law Firm, Ho Chi Minh City) said that the act of posting false information on social networks, causing public confusion, is a violation of the law.

Individuals who provide false, slanderous, or distorted information may be subject to penalties under Point a, Clause 3, Article 64 of Decree 174/2013/ND-CP on administrative penalties for violations in the fields of post, telecommunications, information technology, and radio frequencies, with a fine ranging from VND 10 million to VND 15 million.

In case anyone posts information on a computer network or telecommunications network that is contrary to the provisions of law, illegally profits from VND 50,000,000 to under VND 200,000,000 or causes damage from VND 100,000,000 to under VND 500,000,000 or causes bad public opinion that reduces the reputation of an agency, organization or individual, he/she may be prosecuted for criminal liability for the crime.“illegally providing or using information on computer networks or telecommunications networks” under Article 288 of the Penal Code, with a fine of up to one billion VND or imprisonment of up to 7 years. In addition, one may be banned from holding a position, practicing a profession or doing certain jobs from 1 to 5 years.