Arrested reporter didn't know he was wanted

(Baonghean.vn) - Confessing to the police, the defendant Vu Thai Quang said that he did not know that the Ho Chi Minh City Police Department issued a wanted notice 18 years ago.

» Wanted for 18 years, returned to hometown to become a reporter

On the morning of October 9, suspect Vu Thai Quang was still being detained by the Criminal Investigation Department (PC52), Nghe An Provincial Police, to continue taking statements.

Wanted information for Vu Thai Quang.

At the police station, Quang claimed that he did not know that he was wanted by the Ho Chi Minh City Police Department. For the past 18 years, Quang has returned to his hometown to live normally and work as a journalist. He even went on business trips abroad recently.

An officer from PC52 said that Vu Thai Quang told the police that he was a reporter for the Business and Law Newspaper. However, Mr. Quang has not yet presented any documents to prove his statement.

A leader of the Business and Law Newspaper confirmed that Vu Thai Quang has been a reporter for the newspaper for about 2 years. “Mr. Quang is a reporter from the editorial office in Hanoi, not a resident reporter in Nghe An. The file to receive Mr. Quang to work at the Business and Law Newspaper does not show that Mr. Quang has ever been wanted. After receiving the information, the Business and Law Newspaper sent a representative to work with PC52 Nghe An,” this person said.

Vu Thai Quang declared himself a reporter for the Business and Law Newspaper.

Colonel Tran Van Minh - Head of PC52 said that PC52 only performs the task of receiving and handing over wanted subjects according to regulations. The investigation and clarification of related contents is not the responsibility of PC52. Currently, the unit is completing the procedures and waiting for Ho Chi Minh City Police to hand over the subject.

Defendant Vu Thai Quang (born in 1974, from Hung Xa commune, Hung Nguyen district, Nghe An) was arrested by PC52 at noon on October 8. In 1999, Vu Thai Quang was wanted by the Ho Chi Minh City Police Department for the crime of "Receiving or consuming property obtained by others".

Ngoc Lan