Man fined 7.5 million dong for insulting police on social media in Vietnam

Authorities in Dong Nai province have fined a 47-year-old man 7.5 million Vietnamese dong for posting insulting comments about the local police on a social media platform. The incident occurred after the man, identified as H.Q.K. from Thuan Loi commune, left comments containing false information and damaging the reputation of the Phu Rieng Commune Police on their official Facebook page.

Officials from the Phu Rieng Commune Police discovered the comments made by the Facebook account "Q.K.H." They subsequently summoned H.Q.K. for questioning. During the interview, he admitted that he had not fully understood the original post on the "Phu Rieng Commune Police, Dong Nai City" fan page and had consequently posted remarks that insulted the police's reputation.

The fine was issued by the Phu Rieng Commune Police under Decree No. 15/2020/ND-CP of the Government, which penalizes the provision and sharing of false information that harms the reputation of agencies and organizations. This action underscores the authorities' commitment to maintaining the integrity of public institutions online.

In a related incident on June 23, the cybersecurity division of the Dong Nai Provincial Police fined another individual, N.D.T. (44 years old), for similar offenses. N.D.T. had posted and commented false information concerning the Dong Nai Provincial Police, impacting the institution's credibility. He has since deleted the posts and pledged not to repeat the offense. Dong Nai police urge the public to exercise caution and responsibility when using social media, emphasizing the need to verify information and refrain from spreading falsehoods or defamatory content.