Former Culture Center Director in Vietnam Arrested for Social Media Posts

Cao Thị Ngọc Mai, the former director of the Tra Vinh City Culture Center in Vietnam's Vinh Long province, has been arrested on charges of abusing democratic freedoms to infringe upon the interests of the state and its citizens. The 52-year-old is accused of posting numerous articles and videos on social media that allegedly defamed provincial leaders and various organizations and individuals. On July 17, the Vinh Long Provincial Police detained Mai for investigation under Article 331 of the Penal Code, which addresses the misuse of freedoms and democratic rights to harm state interests and the legitimate rights of organizations and individuals. According to initial investigations, after completing a previous five-year prison sentence for embezzlement in early 2025, Mai allegedly continued to post content on social media, expressing dissatisfaction with her past conviction. Authorities claim these posts contained accusations, distortions, and insults targeting the reputation and credibility of provincial leadership, as well as other entities and persons. Officials stated that Mai was previously advised and guided on how to exercise her rights to appeal and report grievances according to regulations. However, she persisted in publishing content deemed false and detrimental to local security. Mai had previously been sentenced to five years in prison for embezzlement by the Tra Vinh City People's Court in 2022. Source: VnExpress