Police in southern Tien Giang Province said they will clarify the motive of a reporter for the Radio Voice of Vietnam (VOV) Online who released a false story that shocked the public.

>> Police reject news of man getting stuck in daughter-in-law As previously reported, on September 18 VOV Online published an article claiming that “a 58-year-old man and his daughter-in-law were hospitalized after his penis got stuck in her vagina while they were having sex…”. Tran Kim Mai, deputy chairwoman of the Tien Giang Province People’s Committee, said she had requested that VOV Online publish a correction for its false article and punish the reporter under applicable regulations. The VOV Online has made a correction and is taking steps to discipline Chu Trinh, Mai said. On September 21, Trinh submitted a report to the press team admitting that the news was false. The reporter said she had not checked the correctness of the information she had obtained. According to local police, the article has negatively impacted on social life in the province. Many people in the province’s Go Cong Town photocopied the article and then sold it for VND1,000 per copy, helping to disseminate the false news.

It took police a long time to explain the situation to the public and revoke the copies of the article. The provincial Broadcasting Station and the Television Station continuously released confirmation that the VOV Online’s sex article was a complete fabrication. Previously Trinh wrote two articles containing incorrect information that caused such serious consequences that the local police reported the case to the Ministry of Public Security, asking the ministry to work with the VOV on re-educating Trinh in terms of political thinking. The two mistaken articles are “Thoi Son cancer village” and “My Tho authorities not to arrange traders of imported fruits into market”. These articles caused confusion and worry among the public and seriously affected the province’s investment environment, police said. In the coming days the province’s investigation police agency will summon Trinh for questioning to clarify the motive of the reporter in writing the latest incorrect article, police said.