Hai Phong City police have decided to initiate criminal proceedings against three journalists from Kinh Doanh and Phap Luat (Business and Law) newspaper for extortion.

The branch office of Business and Law newspaper in Hai Phong City has been sealed after the police search. 

Colonel Nguyen Duc Cuong, head of Hai Phong's Hong Bang District Police, said the trio had abused their position as journalists.

They are Pham Van Tan, 27, Phan Thanh Long, 26, both residents of An Lao District and reporters at the newspaper, and Van Thuong, 43, head of the branch office of the newspaper in Hai Phong City.

The two reporters were caught red-handed on March 24 while taking money from Dao Thi Dai, a resident of Ngo Quyen District.

Tan and Long had extorted money from Đài earlier too. They were blackmailing her by threatening to publish a report in the newspaper about her violating construction rules while building her house.

After arresting the duo, the police conducted an urgent search at the newspaper office, seized many documents linked to their criminal activities and arrested Thuong, the leader of the extortion racket.

At the police station, the three accused confessed to the crime.

Thuong said he studied and supplied information to the two reporters and other accomplices about local families that have violated construction rules. 

They would then approach their victims, present the evidence and extort money from them. Each gang member would get 10 per cent of the money collected.

In March alone, Thuong had extorted VNĐ20 million (around US$900), the police said, adding that this had been going on for a long time and that they had blackmailed many people.

Investigations are on to build a strong case and prosecute the accused. 

VNS