Trương Hữu Lộc. — Photo plo.vn

HCM CITY — Police in HCM City yesterday issued decisions commencing criminal proceedings against and detaining two men for disturbing social order.

One of the men was named as Nguyễn William Anh, a US citizen born in 1985, who was staying in Ward 5, District 3. According to police and a statement by the accused, Nguyễn William Anh entered Việt Nam on June 9 as a tourist.

On June 10, Nguyễn William Anh joined a crowd causing disorder on Nguyễn Văn Trỗi – Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa street. At the Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa – Lý Chính Thắng intersection in District 3, Nguyễn William Anh asked authorised forces to remove specialised vehicles so that the crowd could pass.

When his request was not granted, Nguyễn William Anh climbed on top of a vehicle and called on the crowd to pass through.

His acts were recorded on video by authorised forces, which were used as evidence for his disturbance of social order. The city police issued emergency arrest warrants on June 12 for Nguyễn William Anh, followed by decisions on temporary custody and first-time extension of temporary custody on June 14.

After consolidating files and evidence, on June 15, the municipal police issued decisions on commencing criminal proceedings against and temporary detention of Nguyễn William Anh for disturbing social order.

The other man detained was named as Trương Hữu Lộc, born in 1961 and residing in Tân Bình District. According to the investigative agency, Lộc regularly livestreamed on his Facebook account, calling on people to stage and attend protests.

Lộc directly incited people to gather and cause disorder over recent days. Public security forces in HCM City determined that reactionary organisations in exile had played a role in inciting and providing funds for elements in the country to organise and incite people to take to the street and cause disorder. — VNS