On January 5 (2023), The Investigative Security Agency of the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam prosecuted, detained, and ordered a search for Tran Viet Thai, former Vietnamese Ambassador to Malaysia, for allegedly “abusing his position in office.” , powers while on duty” in the case related to “rescue flights” to bring back Vietnamese stranded abroad during the pandemic.
Arrested on the same day as Mr. Tran Viet Thai, there was also Mr. Nguyen Hoang Linh, a former officer of the Vietnamese Embassy in Malaysia.
Before being appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Vietnam to Malaysia, Mr. Thai was Deputy Director of the Institute for Strategic Studies of Diplomacy, Diplomatic Academy and Deputy Foreign Policy Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Lieutenant General To An Xo, Chief of Office and Spokesperson of the Ministry of Public Security, told the press that this is the latest development in the investigation process of the case of “giveaways, bribes, bribe brokers; abusing positions and powers while performing official duties and fraudulently appropriating property” occurred at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hanoi and other provinces and cities.
So far, the Ministry of Public Security has prosecuted, detained and banned from leaving the residence 41 suspects related to this case, including many officials and officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Health. The Ministry of Transport, the Immigration Department of the Ministry of Public Security, the Office of the Government … with charges of “giving bribes”, “receiving bribes” and “fraudulent appropriation of property”.
The highest-ranking official arrested so far is Deputy Foreign Minister To Anh Dung on charges of “taking bribes”.
Most recently, Vice Chairman of the City People’s Committee. Hanoi Chu Xuan Dung and Vice Chairman of Quang Nam Provincial People’s Committee Tran Van Tan were also detained on charges of “taking bribes”.
The so-called “citizen rescue” flights have been approved by the Vietnamese government with the participation of five ministries, including: the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Public Security. Naitional defense.
According to the spokesman of the Ministry of Public Security, Lieutenant General To An Xo, in a press conference in June, the profit from each “rescue flight” amounted to several billion dong after deducting expenses, and Initial investigation results show that the accused received tens of billions of dong and hundreds of thousands of dollars. (Source: VOA Vietnam)
