Nguyen Phuong Hang, a Vietnamese CEO who became an Internet sensation thanks to her Facebook live-streams, was arrested on Thursday evening for abusing democratic freedoms.

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Public Security arrested and initiated legal proceedings against Hang, CEO of Dai Nam JSC, for abusing democratic freedoms to infringe upon the interests of the state and the rights and interests of individuals.

The decision was approved by the municipal People’s Procuracy.

Officers also searched Hang’s houses in District 1 and District 3, Ho Chi Minh City on the same night and confiscated several documents related to the case.

An officer reads the decision to prosecute and arrest Nguyen Phuong Hang at the police station in Ho Chi Minh City, March 24, 2022. Photo: Vietnam Government Portal

Hang had taken advantage of her influence and used social networks to organize many live broadcasts during which she shared unverified information related to other people's private lives, the municipal Department of Public Security stated in its information portal.

The woman often insulted and slandered other people during her live-streams, it added.

Hang was previously banned from leaving the country from February 16 to April 29 over multiple accusations of slander and insults.

Nguyen Phuong Hang during her Facebook live-stream

During her Facebook live-streams from March 2021, Hang accused many celebrities of pocketing donations for flood-stricken residents in central Vietnam in 2020.

Officers under the Ministry of Public Security later investigated these allegations and concluded that the artists did not commit fraud or appropriate charitable money.

Multiple celebrities and some journalists also accused Hang of slandering and humiliating other people.

Police search the house of Nguyen Phuong Hang in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, March 24, 2022. Photo: Minh Hoa / Tuoi Tre

Police search the house of Nguyen Phuong Hang in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, March 24, 2022. Photo: Minh Hoa / Tuoi Tre

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