The Thai Binh province police's investigation agency has arrested Luu Binh Nhuong, a former lawmaker and currently a vice head of the National Assembly’s Ombudsman Committee.
In a Wednesday announcement, the provincial police said Nhuong has been charged with extortion, per Article 150 of the Penal Code. The move is the result of an expanded investigation against Pham Minh Cuong, a notorious gangster in the province. Thai Binh police are continuing their investigation, the force added.
Luu Binh Nhuong, born in 1963, was a National Assembly member in 2016-2021, or the 14th tenure of the parliament. He is not a National Assembly member in the current (15th) tenure but has been a vice head of the National Assembly’s Ombudsman Committee since his appointment in 2018.
Nhuong has been well-known for outspoken statements during National Assembly meetings and discussions.
Pham Minh Cuong was arrested for the same charge as Nhuong in May 2023. In 2020-2022, Cuong illegally coerced sand mining businesses into selling part of their products to him at low prices or paying him money.
Cuong was found to have profiteered billions of VND (VND1 billion = $41,200) from his wrongdoings. Cuong was also prosecuted for “assault” and “disturbing public order” in April 2022.