The Ministry of Public Security’s Investigation Agency launched legal proceedings on Kim Quoc Hoa, former editor-in-chief of Nguoi Cao Tuoi (The Elderly) newspaper on May 11 and examined his private home and workplace.

Hoa, born in 1945 in Hanoi’s Phu Xuyen district, is being prosecuted for “abusing democratic freedoms to infringe upon the interests of the State, the legitimate rights and interests of organisations and/or citizens” as stated in Article 258 of the Penal Code.

He allegedly wrote and allowed the publishing of several articles that distorted the truth, aimed at insulting and making false accusations against a number of organisations and individuals.

The online newspaper also reportedly published articles that revealed confidential information related to national security and abused democratic rights to undermine the nation's legal benefits.

Earlier, the Information and Communications Ministry announced the withdrawal of the newspaper’s licence and its editor-in-chief’s press card following its inspection.-VNA