Police in Phu Tho province announced on 23/7 that two men, Tran Ngoc Binh, 40, and Nguyen Quang Manh, 25, have been arrested and charged with fraud.
Binh, an administrator of the Facebook group "Traffic Laws and Road Safety," and Manh allegedly collected money from drivers whose vehicles violated regulations concerning size, weight, or container modifications. In return, they promised to "protect" these drivers from law enforcement.
Investigators say Binh and Manh exploited drivers' fear of police action by falsely claiming close relationships with authorities and the ability to intervene on their behalf.
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The logo created by Binh for drivers to display after paying for "protection." Photo: Police Department |
The logo created by Binh for drivers to display after paying for "protection." Photo: Police Department
The suspects charged 300,000 VND per day or 3 million VND per month, depending on the specific violation. They provided drivers with LED-illuminated logos bearing the name "Tran Binh" or round logos with "BG19" or "Traffic Laws & Road Safety," instructing them to display these stickers on their vehicles. Binh told drivers these logos would signal their "protection" and prevent police scrutiny.
The initial investigation reveals that since the beginning of the year, the group led by Binh has collected money from numerous individuals both within and outside Phu Tho province.
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Tran Ngoc Binh at the police station. Photo: Police Department |
Tran Ngoc Binh at the police station. Photo: Police Department
The investigation also uncovered that the suspects, exploiting their administrator roles, frequently recorded and photographed traffic police during patrols and checkpoints. This practice is considered harassment and is believed to have misrepresented law enforcement activities to the public.
