Vietnamese journalists to face court

01/10/2008 01:51:04

Two Vietnamese journalists will go on trial after being charged with reporting false information about one of Vietnam's most high-profile corruption cases.

A state media report says journalists Nguyen Van Hai and Nguyen Viet Chien have been formally charged with "abusing freedom and democracy" - an offence that carries a maximum jail sentence of seven years.

The two are known for aggressive reporting on corruption at two of the country's largest and most respected dailies.

Two police officers, who provided information to the journalists, will also be tried on charges of "deliberately revealing state secrets".

The media report says one of the policemen charged is the scandal's chief investigator.

Security agents jailed the two journalists on May 12, citing unspecified inaccuracies in their reporting on a 2005 scandal in Vietnam's transport ministry.

The case led to the conviction of nine people, accused of illegally betting millions of dollars on European football matches with money embezzled from the ministry.

The trials could start within two weeks.

Produced by Radio Australia and Australia Network