Saigon-based Activist Detained, Robbed by Hanoi Police When He Comes for Examination

Mr. Pham Le Vuong Cac (Second from right) and other Saigon-based activists

Defend the Defenders, June 15, 2018

Security forces in Hanoi have detained Saigon-based pro-democracy campaigner Pham Le Vuong Cac, robbing him and forcing him to go back to Ho Chi Minh City, the victim told Defend the Defenders.

Mr. Cac, a law student in Hanoi-based University of Economics and Technologies, said he took a flight from HCM City on Friday to the capital city to attend an examination.

After landing in Noi Bai International Airport at 1:40 PM, the 32-year-old student was caught by security officers who took him in a room where they confiscated his cell phone and requested him to provide its password.

Cac denied so police held his phone without making any document for confiscating the phone.

Police officers told him that they had received an information which said Cac had had incited anti-government protests in HCM City and Binh Thuan and now go to Hanoi to incite local protests in the upcoming weekend. However, Cac rejected, saying the information is groundless.

Holding him until 6PM, police took VND1.2 million($53) from his wallet to purchase return ticket and forced him into a flight back to HCM City.

Cac said he missed the examination and has to come back to Hanoi for the examination next month.