Police in the southern Binh Duong Province briefly detained and fined three men VND1.5 million (US$77) each last Sunday for videotaping traffic police officers on duty two weeks ago.
They claimed the men “obstructed police from executing their duty.”
On Nov 29 Nguyen Van Quy, Nguyen Duy Lieu, and Do Tuan Anh filmed officers at a crossroads in Di An District’s Tan Dong Hiep Commune.
Four of them went up to the men and seized the camera from Quy’s hand.
When Lieu took out another camera, the officers snatched it away too.
Ten officers then came, forced them on to officers’ motorbikes, and took them to the station, Lieu told Tuoi Tre.
The police also impounded their motorcycles.
Quy said he will file a complaint with the Ministry of Public Security. He has already complained to the Binh Duong police but has yet to receive a reply.
Deputy Minister of Public Security Le The Tiem told Tuoi Tre Saturday that people have the right to film officers on duty.
The three, who declined to reveal the reason for their filming, work for Minh Tan Construction and Trade Company where Quy is a director.
A resident of Khanh Hoa Province has asked local authorities to prosecute two traffic police officers who he said beat and severely injured him for driving a motorbike without a helmet.