On 8/1, Vo Cong Dat, 39, residing in Thanh Sen ward, was sentenced to 7 years in prison for extortion by the People's Court of Area 1 - Ha Tinh, under Article 170 of the Penal Code.
At court, Dat expressed remorse and admitted his actions, hoping for a reduced sentence to atone for his mistakes. The Trial Panel noted that the defendant's actions created negative consequences for society, warranting strict punishment.
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Defendant Dat at court. Photo: Van Hoang |
The indictment states that Dat was a distant relative and in-law of Mr. Thanh, a construction business director in Thanh Sen ward, formerly part of TP Ha Tinh. In April 2025, citing a lack of funds, Dat demanded that Mr. Thanh's couple "repay a debt of gratitude" by either providing 800 million dong or purchasing a VinFast VF8 car for him.
From April to August 2025, authorities accused Dat of repeatedly posting photos and articles on social media to defame Mr. Thanh and his wife. Dat also called Mr. Thanh, threatening to use force if his demands were not met.
By late August 2025, the extensive defamation had disrupted Mr. Thanh's life and impacted his business. As a result, he and his wife transferred 300 million dong to Dat.
After receiving the victim's report, the Ha Tinh Provincial Police launched an investigation and arrested Dat.
Duc Hung
* Victim's name has been changed.
