A woman and her daughter in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho, who were naked to hinder guards of a construction company from revoking her land, will have to pay aVND80,000 ($4) fine for breaking habits and customs.

On May 22, Ms. Pham Thi Lai, 52, and her daughter, 33, took off their clothes in order to prevent workers and guards of the Construction JS Company No. 8 from implementing the Hung Phu residential area project on their land, which was revoked.

The company’s guards appeared and dragged the woman and her daughter at mid-noon. The case was reported to the authorities of the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho. 

In 2005, the Construction JS Company No. 8 offered Ms. Lai’s family with nearly VND300 million ($18,000) to buy their land, but this family did not agree. In 2010, the company raised compensation to VND1.25 billion ($60,000), which was three times higher than the state price, but the family still did not accept.

In December 2011, the land was revoked by force. Lai’s husband attempted suicide by insecticide to protest, but he was saved.

On June 19, Can Tho city’s Cai Rang District police finalized investigation of the case and proposed to fine Ms. Lai VND1.5 million ($70) for hindering normal activities of organizations and VND80,000 ($4) for breaking habits and customs.

Police also suggested to fine the Western Region Guarding Service Company VND350,000 ($15) for using untrained guards who did not have professional certificates. The Construction JS Company No. 8, which hired guards from the above company, was proposed to be reprimanded.

Source: VNN