HANOI: Vietnam police have launched a formal criminal investigation into an American man who was among dozens arrested last week during rare protests that erupted across the authoritarian state.

American citizen William Anh Nguyen, 32, was detained in Ho Chi Minh City on Sunday during a massive rally protesting a government proposal to grant lengthy land leases in new special economic zones. Many protesters expressed fear the land would be handed to China, and thousands gathered in several cities across the country to demand the government not lease land to Beijing for “even one day”. At least 40 people are still in detention after the rallies, according to Media tally using official figures and state media reports.

The protests turned violent in several spots including southern Binh Thuan province where demonstrators torched police buses and damaged government property. Ho Chi Minh City police said late Friday that Nguyen was being investigated for “for acts of disturbing public order” and accused him of inciting protesters and trying to damage public property.

“After seeing people trying to flip a police pickup truck to clear the way for the protesters, William Anh tried to help them flip the vehicles,” said a report from Ho Chi Minh City’s official police newspaper. The investigation could lead to formal charges and means Nguyen is likely to remain in detention until the probe is closed.

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