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Zhang He
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Vietnam demotes policemen for naked prostitutes film
The Associated Press
Monday, December 6, 2010; 10:28 PM
HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Authorities in northern Vietnam have demoted five policemen for filming the arrest of two naked prostitutes after the footage was posted on the Internet, police said Tuesday.
The policemen were disciplined for ethical violations, said Le Binh, police spokesman in northern province of Quang Ninh. A sixth officer was given a warning. "Their actions have caused bad consequences," he said by telephone.
One of the six policemen used his mobile phone to film the women during their arrest in June with two male clients, which they claimed would be used as evidence, state media have reported.
The clip shows the women with a shirtless client in what appears to be a hotel room, while several other men in civilian clothes take notes. The women try to cover themselves but are ordered to stand and put their hands up for one of the clothed men to take pictures.
The identities of the clothed men is not clear. The video has circulated on websites, causing public outrage at authorities abusing their power. Binh said police are still investigating how the clip was posted on the Internet.
Human rights groups have criticized Vietnam's police as able to abuse their power with impunity. In September, the U.S.-based Human Rights Watch said it has documented 19 incidents of police brutality, resulting in 15 deaths, all reported in Vietnamese state-controlled media in the past year.
However, there were no reports that any police officers involved in those cases were convicted of any crime. - AP
