Phu Tho Vice Chairman Arrested for Bribery

Nguyen Huy Ngoc, Vice Chairman of the Phu Tho Provincial People's Committee, has been arrested and prosecuted for alleged bribery. At its 12th session on September 11, the Central Inspection Committee proposed disciplinary action against him. The committee assessed that Mr. Ngoc had degenerated in political ideology, morality, and lifestyle, violating Party regulations and state laws in his duties, particularly in preventing and combating corruption, waste, and negativity. He also violated regulations on what Party members are not allowed to do and their responsibility to set an example. These violations have "caused very serious consequences, provoked public indignation, and had a very bad impact on the prestige of Party organizations and working agencies and units," warranting disciplinary action. The Central Inspection Committee recommended that competent authorities consider and discipline Mr. Nguyen Huy Ngoc. A day earlier, Mr. Ngoc and Dr. Le Dinh Son, Director of Phu Tho Provincial General Hospital, were prosecuted and temporarily detained by the Police Investigation Agency on Corruption, Economic Crimes, and Smuggling (C03, Ministry of Public Security) for the crime of accepting bribes under Article 354, Clause 4 of the Criminal Code. According to the Ministry of Public Security, the two are accused of "receiving large sums of money." C03 is currently expanding its investigation to clarify the roles and actions of the defendants and related individuals, while also recovering assets for the state. Mr. Nguyen Huy Ngoc, 56, spent most of his career in Phu Tho's healthcare sector. He served as head of department, deputy director, and then director of the Provincial General Hospital, followed by 11 years as deputy director and director of the Department of Health. He was elected Vice Chairman of the Phu Tho Provincial People's Committee in October 2024 and was appointed Professor of Medicine at the end of 2025.