Former Vietnam Rubber Group general director detained on bribery charges

Tran Ngoc Thuan, former general director of the state-controlled Vietnam Rubber Group (VRG), has been arrested on bribery charges, investigative agency C03 under the Ministry of Public Security said on Wednesday.

Thuan and other officials were arrested as the C03 expanded an investigation into violations at VRG, Dong Nai Rubber Company, Ba Ria Rubber Company, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and other organizations related to the 39-39B Ben Van Don real estate project in Ward 12, District 4, Ho Chi Minh City.

Among those arrested were Vo Sy Luc, former chairman of the council of members of VRG, and Tran Thoai, member of the council, and deputy general director of VRG. These officials were arrested for “violating regulations on the management and use of state assets, causing loss and waste.”

Legal proceedings have also been launched against Nguyen Thi Hong, former Vice Chairwoman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, for “abusing positions and power while on duty,” the investigative agency said.

Another senior official implicated in this case, Doan Ngoc Phuong, deputy director of the Land Resources Development and Planning Agency under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, was arrested on May 28, for allegedly accepting bribes. Phuong was also chairman of the Council for Valuing Assets in Criminal Proceedings.

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.”

On May 23, the police had detained eight others for "violating regulations on management and use of state assets, causing loss and waste."

The arrestees were: Le Quang Thung, former general director and acting board chairman of VRG; Huynh Trung Truc, former deputy general director of VRG; Pham Van Thanh, former head of VRG’s investment planning department; Nguyen Thi Gai, former general director of Dong Nai Rubber Company; Nguyen Cong Tai, former chairman of the council of members of Ba Ria Rubber Company; Nguyen Trong Canh, former deputy general director of Ba Ria Rubber 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.

C03 has also placed under house arrest Nguyen Thanh Chau, former board chairman of Dong Nai Rubber Company, also for "violating regulations on management and use of state assets, causing loss and waste."