Deputy director of Land Resources Development and Planning Agency arrested

Doan Ngoc Phuong, deputy director of the Land Resources Development and Planning Agency under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, was arrested on Tuesday for receiving bribes in a scam that occurred at state-controlled Vietnam Rubber Industry Group.

The Ministry of Public Security’s investigative agency (C03) has initiated criminal proceedings against Phuong, also chairman of the Council for Valuing Assets in Criminal Proceedings, for receiving bribes per the Penal Code.

C03 has also launched criminal proceedings against Cao Dai Nghia, deputy head of the land price division of the Land Resources Development and Planning Agency, and Khuong Thanh Tung, director of Thang Long Price Appraisal and Valuation JSC, for "abusing positions and power while on duty".

This is part of an expanded investigation into the case of “violating regulations on management and use of State assets, causing loss and waste" that occurred at Vietnam Rubber Group, Dong Nai Rubber Company, Ba Ria Rubber Company and other units related to the 39-39B Ben Van Don real estate project in Ward 12, District 4, Ho Chi Minh City.

Nghia is a standing member of the Council for Valuing Assets in Criminal Proceedings and head of the team assisting the council. He is currently a defendant in the case that occurred at Phuc Son Group.

Six days ago, Le Quang Thung, former general director, acting chairman of the board of directors at Vietnam Rubber Group; and Huynh Trung Truc, former deputy general director of the group, were arrested by C03 for "violating regulations on management and use of State assets, causing loss and waste".

Arrested on the same charges was Pham Van Thanh, former head of the investment planning department under the Land Resources Development and Planning Agency; Nguyen Thi Gai, former general director of Dong Nai Rubber Company; Nguyen Cong Tai, former board chairman of Ba Ria Rubber Company; and Nguyen Trong Canh, former deputy general director of the company.

Le Y Linh, former director of Viet Tin General Trading Company Limited, and Dang Phuoc Dua, former board chairman of Viet Trust Investment-Trading Corporation, were also detained.