Da Nang investigates assault on reporter

March 13, 2018 - 18:00

The central city’s people’s committee has asked the local public security department to investigate an assault on a reporter at a bar in the city’s downtown on Sunday. The investigation agency must report on the case before Wednesday.

Reporter Hứa Vĩnh Nhân (centre) discusses his assault with an investigator in Đà Nẵng. The reporter was attacked by a group of men working for a bar in the city when he was recording outside the bar. — VNS Photo Kiều Vũ
Viet Nam News

ĐÀ NẴNG — The central city’s People’s Committee has asked the local public security department to investigate an assault on a reporter at a bar in the city’s downtown on Sunday. The investigation agency must report on the case before Wednesday.

According to a report from Thạch Thang Ward’s investigation team, Hứa Vĩnh Nhân, a reporter working for the Giao Thông (Transport) newspaper was recording the Lost&Found Bar at 28 Bạch Đằng Street from a position on the other side of the street. A group of six men from the bar suddenly attacked him and abducted him for two hours from midnight on Sunday till 2am on Monday.

Nhân declared at Thạch Thang Ward’s public security office on Monday that he was beaten by the group of men from the bar and was illegally arrested by the group – which he said was comprised of the bar’s staffers – for hours.

A medical examination at the city’s hospital showed that Nhân suffered an inner skull wound and maxillofacial trauma.  

He said his camera, ID and mobile phone were kept by attackers, and he was released about 2am on Monday.

Nhân said he was recording illegal nighttime activities of the bar following complaints from local residents living near the bar.

They said the bar had for a long time been playing music too loudly late at night.

The case is the worst assault on reporter in the city in recent years.

Đà Nẵng has more than 100 representative offices of newspapers with nearly 1,000 journalists, reporters and staff members. — VNS

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