Thanh Nien reporter held for 'abusing influence'   Thanh Nien reporter Nguyen Kim Cuong was arrested on October 2. Tuoi Tre Police from the Ministry of Public Security in conjunction with their counterparts in southern Dong Nai province have detained a correspondent of Thanh Nien (Young People) Daily Newspaper for his illegal acts of self-interest while on active services. The correspondent, Nguyen Kim Cuong, was arrested at about 6:30 PM Wednesday at his home in Quarter 5, Tan Bien Ward, Bien Hoa City, Dong Nai Province, on charges of "taking advantage of one’s influence over persons with positions and powers to seek personal benefits." Cuong is a reporter managed by the newspaper’s Southeastern Representative Office in Dong Nai. Early on the morning of Wednesday, the provincial Investigation Police Agency summoned   Cuong to their office for questioning before escorting him to his house. After searching his house to collect documents or materials necessary for investigation, police escorted him to his office on Vo Thi Sau Street, Quyet Thang Ward, Bien Hoa, for another search. Cuong will be detained for three months for investigation, police said. A source told Tuoi Tre that Cuong is related to the case in which another reporter, Vo Thanh Tung, 31, whose penname is Duy Dong, ofPhap Luat Thanh Pho Ho Chi Minh (Ho Chi Minh City Law) Newspaper, was charged with “extorting money” from a bar owner in Dong Nai. Tung was arrested after he was caught red-handed receiving a bribe of VND50 million (US$2,370) in cash at Wooshu hotel on August 7 from Tran The Duy Thanh, owner of the NTM bar in Vo Thi Sau Ward, Bien Hoa City. Before his arrest, Tung had gone undercover to several bars including MTM in Dong Nai. He later wrote a series of stories to expose their violations. After some of his first articles were published, Thanh asked Tung to stop publishing stories about MTM.  Tung later required Thanh to pay him VND200 million ($9,480). Thanh agreed but reported the case to the police. Initial investigations showed that Cuong and Tung have conspired together to conduct a number of illegal affairs for their personal gain. TUOITRENEWS