Extortion case of 70,000 USD from a business: Female reporter "bargained" for nearly 2 months

Regarding the case of Dao Thi Thanh Binh, 40 years old, residing in lane 137, Vu Tong Phan street, Khuong Dinh ward, Thanh Xuan district, Hanoi city, a reporter of the Brand and Public Opinion Newspaper, who was arrested by Bac Giang Provincial Police in coordination with Cau Giay District Police, Hanoi on December 18, the Investigation Police Agency of Bac Giang Provincial Police said that there were sufficient documents and evidence to prove that Dao Thi Thanh Binh extorted property from LEXSHARE- ICT Vietnam Company Limited.

It is known that LEXSHARE- ICT Vietnam Co., Ltd. is a foreign company with a very large investment capital in Bac Giang province, with about 4,000 workers, solving jobs and bringing large revenue to the locality. Due to the large number of workers, LEXSHARE- ICT Vietnam Co., Ltd. has sent a document requesting the People's Committee of Bac Giang province to allow the construction of housing for workers.

While waiting for the license, this company started construction without permission. Discovering the above violations, in October 2018, Dao Thi Thanh Binh contacted LEXSHARE- ICT Vietnam Co., Ltd. to work, clearly stating the violations and demanding that LEXSHARE- ICT Vietnam Co., Ltd. pay money to ignore them, otherwise the case would be reported to the newspaper.

LEXSHARE- ICT Vietnam Co., Ltd. asked Dao Thi Thanh Binh to drop the case and asked Binh how much money she needed to give him to drop the case. Dao Thi Thanh Binh set a condition requiring LEXSHARE- ICT Vietnam Co., Ltd. to work with the broker. Accordingly, the broker contacted LEXSHARE- ICT Vietnam Co., Ltd. and set a condition requiring Binh to pay 100,000 USD.

Because the above amount was too high, LEXSHARE- ICT Vietnam Co., Ltd., the two parties bargained down to 70,000 USD and Binh agreed and made an appointment at an address on Hoang Quoc Viet Street, Hanoi to make the transaction. Realizing that Dao Thi Thanh Binh's demand was unreasonable and violated the law, LEXSHARE- ICT Co., Ltd. reported to the Police Department.

Determining that this was a serious incident, affecting the reputation of the province and the state's investment calling policy, the Director of Bac Giang Provincial Police reported to the Provincial Party Committee, Provincial People's Committee and directed the Criminal Police Department to coordinate with relevant agencies to investigate and arrest the subject.

As scheduled, on December 18, Binh was in the act of receiving 70,000 USD from Mr. Tang Due Bang, 51 years old, Chinese nationality, currently residing in Le Loi ward, Bac Giang city - Director of Foreign Affairs of Luxshare - Ici Vietnam Company headquartered in Quang Chau Industrial Park, Viet Yen, Bac Giang, when the police caught him red-handed.

At the scene, the authorities seized: 70 thousand USD, 1 computer and many other related objects and documents.

On December 19, the Brand and Public Opinion Newspaper also spoke out about the above case, affirming that Dao Thi Thanh Binh was a reporter for the newspaper, and at the same time stating that reporter Dao Thi Thanh Binh had proposed to the editorial board to collect information to write an article about the workers' housing area at LEXSHARE Company Limited. The editorial board recognized that the need to build housing for workers was necessary, so they agreed to let reporter Dao Thi Thanh Binh collect information to write an article.

The editorial board wrote a letter of introduction for the reporter to meet the Company, the Bac Giang Industrial Park Management Board and the Bac Giang Provincial People's Committee to learn more. During the reporting process, the reporter reported on the work and is waiting for the company's response.

Currently, Bac Giang Provincial Police are continuing to investigate, clarify and handle the behavior of the broker in the above case.