More prosecutions in Vietnam bribery probe

Fourteen people have been prosecuted in Vietnam as part of a bribery case involving the country’s food safety agency.

An office of the Ministry of Public Security is investigating the giving and receiving of bribes at the Department of Food Safety under the Ministry of Health as well as at companies in Hanoi and in other cities nationwide.

Authorities said action was taken during the process of an expanded investigation, based on collected documents and evidence.

The order includes temporary detention of Do Huu Tuan, former deputy director of the Department of Food Safety; Le Manh Hung, head of the Department of Food Product Management; and Vu Huy Long, specialist at the Department of Food Product Management.

Five others are prohibited from leaving their place of residence. This includes Nguyen Thi Thu Quynh, of the Department of Food Poisoning Monitoring and Information and Communication; Nguyen Thi Yen, deputy chief of office, Department of Food Safety; Pham Hoang Giang and Tran Thi Hong Nhung, from the Department of Food Product Management; and Tran Thi Tuyet, of the Department of Standards and Testing.

Ongoing investigation
Earlier this year, authorities revealed the former director of Vietnam’s Food Administration was one of several people charged as part of a corruption investigation.

Nguyễn Thanh Phong was among 18 defendants. The case involves the approval of food supplements and functional food product registrations.

In August, several orders were issued including one to search 15 locations, such as places of residence and workplaces.

Enforcement action involved temporary detention of Tran Viet Nga, director of the Department of Food Safety; Tran Thi Thu Lieu, deputy head of the Department of Food Poisoning Surveillance and Information and Communication; and Nguyen Thi Hai Ha, of the Department of Standards and Testing.

Phung Thi Thuy Ha, from the Food Poisoning Monitoring and Information and Communication Department; Nguyen Thi Viet Ha, of the Food Product Management Department; and Tran Thi Luu, from the Food Product Management Department were prevented from leaving their homes because of a suspicion of receiving bribes.

The same punishment was imposed on Dau Thi Giang and Nguyen Thanh Uyen, who are accused of giving bribes. Quach Thi Tra My and Tran Thi Quynh Trang are also facing similar charges.

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