Vietnamese authorities arrested Luu Binh Nhuong, a prominent parliamentary official, on Tuesday for suspected involvement in an extortion scheme. The Police Investigation Agency of Thai Binh Province disclosed that Nhuong is under investigation for the alleged crime of taking property under Article 170 of the Penal Code of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

The arrest follows a decision by the Police Investigation Agency of Thai Binh Province to prosecute Nhuong, accompanied by an order for his temporary detention and a search warrant for both his residence and workplace. According to Thai Binh Provincial Police, the case involves the misappropriation of a substantial amount of money.

Nhuong served as a delegate of the 14th National Assembly of Vietnam from 2016 to 2021, representing the delegation of Ben Tre province. He held key positions, including a position on the National Assembly’s Committee on Social Issues and deputy head of the Vietnamese National Assembly’s People’s Committee. Nhuong also served as the vice chairman of the Vietnam-Switzerland Parliamentary Friendship Group.

Nhuong has been critical of both government officials and the Vietnamese security forces. In July 2021, Nhuong addressed the issue of corruption, emphasizing the need for greater transparency and public participation in supervision. He raised concerns about the lack of protection for whistleblowers and the challenges associated with denouncing superior leaders within organizations.

UN Special Rapporteur on the right to development, Surya Deva, has expressed concerns about freedom of speech in Vietnam, stating that “active, free, and meaningful participation of people in decision-making processes may be difficult” under current conditions.