Five men fined $1,500 for spreading false information about Central Highlands attacks

A 38-year-old man in Quang Nam was fined VND5.5 million on Tuesday for sharing “inaccurate content” that violate organizations’ reputation, the local police said.

The man, who lives in Hoi An, made inaccurate comments after reading a Facebook post on the attacks, they said.

The man admitted his offense, they added.

Another man, 33, who belongs to Nha Trang, and three men from the central province of Ha Tinh were fined VND7.5 million each on the same day by the local police for the same violation.

They said he had commented inaccurately on the attacks on Facebook.

They too admitted to their violation.

The Nha Trang men told the police that he was often on social media groups on politics that spread inaccurate information, resulting in his distorted perception.

On Sunday morning an unidentified group of people with guns attacked the Ea Tieu and Ea Ktur commune people’s committee offices in Cu Kuin District in the Central Highlands province.

Four police officers, two commune officials and three civilians were killed, and two officers were injured. There is no information about whether any of the attackers were injured or killed.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang and Deputy Minister of Public Security Luong Tam Quang on Monday visited and consoled the families of those killed.

The government has announced a compensation of VND100 million (US$4,260) each to the families of the four deceased police officers.

The two injured policemen will get VND50 million each.