Former freelance journalist of Thanh Nien daily newspaper, Mai Xuan Binh, was today sentenced to 30 months in jail for his blackmail of VND20 million (US$962).
The 35-year offender, who was admitted as a freelance journalist of Thanh Nien newspaper in May 2011 covering news in the southern Binh Phuoc Province, befriended Nguyen Thi Thuong, 41, a former editor of the Binh Phuoc radio and TV station.
Thuong told Binh that she lent Ha Thi Hue, 38, vice chief of the program department of the Binh Phuoc radio and TV station, hundreds of millions dong (VND100 million equals US$4,800) including VND50 million meant for sending one of her friends to work for a local police department.
Her friend was not admitted into any police department but Hue refused to pay back the sum, Thuong told Binh as mentioned in the verdict.
On March 5, 2013, Binh came to the house of Hue, who is the wife of Dieu Dieu, deputy chairman of the People’s Committee of Binh Phuoc’s Bu Gia Map District, to interview the couple.
However, Hue confessed that she owned Thuong VND25 million ($1,200), not VND215 million ($10,300). Hue also admitted that she was wrong in receiving a sum to seek a job in a local police department for a friend of Thuong.
Binh threatened that he would write a story to uncover the wrongdoing involving the wife of the district’s vice chairman.
On hearing the couple said they didn’t want to let the affair disclosed on paper, Binh suggested them giving him VND20 million ($961) to ignore the case.
On March 7, Hue gave Binh VND2 million ($96). Binh called her to remind the case and Hue gave him another VND3 million ($144) four days later.
On March 12, Binh received the remaining VND15 million ($721) and was caught red handed by police.
Although the offender, 35, denied the charge at the trial of the People’s Court of Binh Phuoc Province in the south, chairman Bui Van Binh argued that his declarations to investigation police suited the statements of his victims and the evidence collected during the inquiry.
Đăng ký: VietNam News
