Lieutenant General Tô Ân Xô, Chief of the Office and Spokesman of the Ministry of Public Security. VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI -- The Ministry of Public Security is investigating nine people in seven cities and provinces for spreading rumours saying Phạm Nhật Vượng, Chairman of Vingroup, had been banned from travelling abroad.

Lieutenant General Tô Ân Xô, Chief of the Office and Spokesman of the Ministry of Public Security, said on July 11 that the authorised forces have verified and transferred the information of one of the nine people, Tô Vĩ Hoàn, a 38-year-old man in the capital, to the municipal Department of Information and Communications.

Hoàn spread false information related to Vingroup, affecting the reputation, rights and legitimate interests of the firm, as well as the stock market, the ministry said.

Earlier, Xô said the information posted on social networks about preventive measures imposed on the head of Vingroup was incorrect.

According to the officer, in recent days, a number of social media accounts have spread information that the corporation leader was banned from leaving the country because he was being investigated. 

The ministry confirmed the information as false, adding that its professional departments were verifying those behind the rumours to handle in accordance with the law.

The rumours about Vượng, who has a certain influence on the stock and corporate bond markets, not only had severe consequences on the economy, but also damaged many organisations and individuals, and could be a criminal offence. VNS