Vietnamese Police Provide No Further Details On The Detention Of Dissident Blogger Duong Van Thai

Vietnam’s police have given no further information on the status of dissident blogger Duong Van Thai, allegedly kidnapped by Hanoi security agents and brought back to Vietnam. The police in Ha Tinh Province later declared that they found Thai “illegally crossing the border to enter Vietnam” on April 14 and detained him for further investigation. Although Thai’s maximum nine-day detention period ended on April 23, the Vietnamese authorities have not yet said whether he will face trial or be released.

According to Vietnam’s criminal prosecution law, a criminal suspect is subject to a maximum detention period of up to three days following the arrest. The temporary custody can be extended up to two times, and each extension cannot exceed three days. Meanwhile, the police must publicly disclose the status of a detainee after the temporary custody period expires. Additionally, a procuracy office at the same level must approve the detention extension of a criminal suspect.