Blogger Pham Viet Dao was arrested yesterday in Hanoi for “abusing rights to freedom and democracy” under the penal code.

>> Blogger Truong Duy Nhat arrested Dao, a native of central Nghe An Province but resides in Hanoi, was arrested on Thursday at his home on Thuy Khue Street, Buoi Ward, Tay Ho District. Police also searched the 61-year-old man’s residence the same day.  Dao was detained on charges of “abusing rights to freedom and democracy to infringe upon State interests and the legitimate interests of organizations and/or citizens,” under Article 258 of the Penal Code, police said.

In a notice released yesterday evening, the police said the arrest of Dao and search of his home had been carried out in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. Dao obeyed all the decisions of the investigation agency, police said. Investigators are clarifying Dao’s illegal acts and will handle them in accordance with relevant laws. As previously reported, police from the Ministry of Public Security on May 26 arrested Truong Duy Nhat, 49, the owner and chief writer of the blog “Một góc nhìn khác” (“Another viewpoint”), on the same charge. The arrest was made at his home in Hoa Cuong Bac Ward, Hai Chau District, in the central city of Da Nang and Nhat was later escorted by air to Hanoi.