Former deputy minister of natural resources subject to legal proceedings

Legal proceedings have been launched against Nguyen Linh Ngoc, former Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, and six others for violating regulations on management and use of state assets, causing loss and waste.

The Ministry of Public Security’s investigative agency on Monday stated that they are investigating into the case of “breaching regulations on researching, exploring and exploiting natural resources; violating accounting regulations causing especially serious consequences; smuggling and selling property illegally obtained by others; breaking regulations on management and use of state assets causing loss and waste” that occurred at Thai Duong Group JSC and related units.

Based on the results of an expanded investigation into the case, the investigative agency the same day launched legal proceedings against and arrested Ngoc and four others for “violating regulations on management and use of state assets causing loss and waste”, per the Penal Code.

The four people include Nguyen Van Thuan, former director general of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment's Vietnam Agency of Geology and Minerals; Hoang Van Khoa, former director of the agency’s minerals department; Ho Duc Hop, director of Yen Bai province’s Department of Natural Resources and Environment; and Le Cong Tien, deputy director of the department.

The two others subject to legal proceedings and banned from leaving their residential areas for violating regulations of management and use of state assets causing loss and waste are Bui Doan Nhu, former head of the minerals devision under Yen Bai province's Department of Natural Resources and Environment, and Le Duy Phuong, an official at the Vietnam Agency of Geology and Minerals' minerals department.

This case is being monitored and directed by the Central Steering Committee for Anti-Corruption.

Previously, in October 2023, the Ministry of Public Security initiated legal proceedings against and detained some people at Thai Duong Group JSC for “breaching regulations on researching, exploring and exploiting natural resources” and “violating accounting regulations causing serious consequences”, per the Penal Code.

They are Doan Van Huan, chairman of the board of directors cum general director; and Nguyen Van Chinh, deputy general director cum chief accountant of the company.

According to the investigators, Huan and Chinh directed and organized the illegal exploitation and sale of more than 11,200 tons of rare earth ore worth about VND440 billion ($17.37 million) and nearly 153,000 tons of iron ore worth about VND192 billion, illegally earning a total VND632 billion ($24.95 million).

Huan and Chinh also reached agreements with Vietnam Rare Earth JSC and Hop Thanh Phat Company under which VAT invoices related to buying and selling rare earth ore and iron ore showed artificially lower quantity and prices, helping Thai Duong Group JSC leave over VND28 billion ($1.11 million) out of its accounting books. This led to an estimated loss of over VND7.5 billion ($296,000) in tax for the state.

On January 5, 2024, legal proceedings were launched against five people related to this case for “smuggling”, namely Andy Lau (Chinese nationality); Vu Thi Tuyet; Tran Duc, director of Duong Lieu Logistic Company; Tran Nhu Hoang, an employee of the firm; and Nguyen Anh Son, director of Son Anh Phu Tho Trading Company.

Three people subject to legal proceedings for "breaching accounting regulations causing serious consequences" are Nguyen Thanh Doan, director of Truong Son War Invalids JSC; Doan Hai Nam of Hoa Phat Hai Duong Steel JSC; and Do Khanh Toan, deputy director of Atexim Company.