Former Ben Tre province leader arrested for abusing positions

Former Party Central Committee member and former chief of Ben Tre province’s Party Committee Le Duc Tho has been arrested for “abuse of positions to influence others for personal gains” per the Penal Code.

The information was released on Thursday by Lieutenant General To An Xo, a spokesman for the Ministry of Public Security. Details about Tho's violations have not been released.

The arrest follows an expanded investigation into the case of “violating regulations on management and use of state assets, causing losses and waste; showing lack of responsibility, causing serious consequences; giving bribes; and accepting bribes” that occurred at Xuyen Viet Oil Travel and Transport Trading Company Limited and related agencies.

Le Duc Tho, 53, has a doctorate in economic management. He used to be deputy general director of state-run Vietinbank; chief of the State Bank of Vietnam Office; board member cum general director of Vietinbank, before becoming chairman of the bank.

He was secretary of Ben Tre's Party Committee from July 2021 to October 2, 2023.

On October 2, at the eighth plenum of the 13th Party Central Committee, Tho was expelled from all Party positions for dishonest declaration of assets.

Tho's violations were "systematic, lasting for many years." They caused very serious consequences and public frustration, affecting the Party's reputation, according to a release by the Party Central Committee.

Regarding this case, police previously arrested Mai Thi Hong Hanh, director of Xuyen Viet Oil, and her deputy Nguyen Thi Nhu Phuong for allegedly violating regulations and management and use of state assets, causing losses and waste, in accordance with the Penal Code.

Xuyen Viet Oil is one of 37 petroleum trading units in Vietnam, and was established in 2005 with headquarters in Ho Chi Minh City. It mainly operates in Central Highlands provinces.|

On August 11, the company had its petroleum import and export license, issued on November 19, 2021 and valid until November 2026, revoked by the Minister of Industry and Trade.

According to the 2022 police inspection, Xuyen Viet Oil had committed many violations in its gasoline business activities, such as failing to meet the distribution condition of having at least 40 general agents or retail agents or franchisees.