Screenshot of the lawyer mgazine's website that has been fined and suspended for two months for false reports about a military general. — Photo tuoitre.vn

Head of Press Department under the Ministry of Information and Communications Lưu Đình Phúc yesterday signed a decision to slap an administrative fine of VNĐ50 million (US$2,160) and ordered a two-month suspension against the Luật sư Việt Nam (Vietnamese Lawyers) online magazine, for carrying false information in the article entitled “Mansion encroaching the river belongs to Major General Đỗ Hữu Ca, former director of Hải Phòng City police” that it ran on August 10. 

The magazine was also told to publish a correction as regulated by the law. 

If it fails to comply with the ministry’s decisions, necessary enforcement measures will be carried out. 

From the beginning of the year, the Press Department has suspended two media agencies, revoked two press cards and levied fines worth VNĐ 550 million (US$23,700) in 21 cases, and dealt with hundreds of complaints over articles. 

Half of the complaints involve online-only magazines, according to the press department. — VNS