VietNamNet Bridge – Dao Thi Thanh Binh, a reporter for Thương Hiệu và Công Luận (Brand and Public Opinion) newspaper, was arrested on Wednesday after she tried to extort US$70,000 from a China-invested enterprise in Bac Giang Province.

Dao Thi Thanh Binh, a reporter for Thương Hiệu và Công Luận newspaper, was arrested on Wednesday for extortion. — Photo tuoitre.vn

The 40-year-old reporter was caught at the newspaper head office receiving $70,000 in an envelope from a Chinese national, the external relations manager of Luxshare - ICT Vietnam Company.

Binh admitted to police that she hoped to earn $100,000 from the enterprise, but after some negotiation, the sum of money dropped to $70,000.

Police of Bac Giang Province, in co-ordination with Hanoi’s Cau Giay District, seized $70,000, a CPU and other objects and documents from Binh. She was arrested along with one other person who is suspected of acting as a broker in the case.

Thương Hiệu và Công Luận newspaper is under the Viet Nam Association for Anti-Counterfeiting and Trademark Protection.

Police said that Binh, on an assignment from the editorial board, went to the headquarters of Luxshare - ICT Vietnam Company in Quang Chau Industrial Park, Viet Yen District, Bac Giang Province to write an article on worker housing at the firm.

She then asked for $100,000 to ignore law violations at the enterprise. It is currently unclear what this illegal activity was and how she discovered it. The editorial board were reportedly unaware of the violations when Bình was sent on assignment.

The editorial board had written a letter of recommendation to the company, Bac Giang Industrial Park Management Board and Bac Giang Province People’s Committee to allow Binh to report on the story.

Before being arrested, Bình told the editorial board that she was waiting for the business to reply to some of her questions.

Bac Giang Province police said there was a broker who contacted the company with an initial offer, and then Binh bargained to settle on $70,000.

Binh is a resident of Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi.

The newspaper is co-operating with Bac Giang Province Police Department to handle the case according to regulations.

Source: VNS