Officers in Can Tho City, in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, have arrested and begun legal proceedings against the director of a local towing company for slashing a man with a machete.

Le Tan Tu, 32, the owner of the Tu Anh Towing Service Company, has been held in custody by police in Cai Rang District for attempted assault, Colonel Tran Ngoc Hanh, director of the municipal Department of Police confirmed on Tuesday.

The victim is Vuong Quoc Tan, a resident of Ninh Kieu District, who had previously submitted a document asking that the authorities prosecute and impose stern punishment upon his attacker.

“Although the evaluation of Tan’s injuries has yet to be completed, officers have sufficient evidence to initiate legal procedures against Tu,” Col. Hanh said.

According to the case file, Tu’s company had previously signed a deal with the developers of a controversial tollgate to tow vehicles away from it.

The tollgate is part of a BOT (build-operate-transfer) road project in Cai Lay Town, Tien Giang Province, which includes a detour across the Cai Lay section of National Highway 1. 

Since its opening in August, the tollgate has been the subject of repeated protests from drivers who have payed the toll in small change or stopped their vehicles and refused to make payments, resulting in long traffic delays.

On December 1, a truck from Tu’s company towed a car from the facility following a request by police.

Many people took photos of Tu Anh’s tow truck, which also revealed the phone number of his company, and posted them to a Facebook group popular amongst drivers in Vietnam.

An online argument ensued between Tu and Tan, a member of the group.

Tan and two other members of the Facebook group arrived at Tu Anh Company to talk with the director.

Following a short conversation, Tu slashed Tan’s arm with a machete, resulting in a 15 centimeter cut.

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