Deputy Minister Charged in Durian Export Bribery Scandal

The police have charged a deputy minister from the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection with bribery as part of an expanding investigation into a scandal involving the export of durians to China. The case also implicates the Centre for Testing, Certification and Quality Services, NhoNho Technology Co., Thuy Fruit One Member Co., and other organizations and individuals. The Investigation Police Agency's Department for Investigating Corruption, Economic and Smuggling Crimes stated that its investigation found that the deputy minister and Nguyen Quang Hieu, deputy director of the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection, allegedly abused their positions to issue unlawful policies and introduce "sub-licenses" for the benefit of vested interests, enabling them to obtain illicit gains amounting to an exceptionally large sum. The police also alleged that the defendants interfered in official procedures and instructed subordinates to issue fraudulent testing certificates and cultivation area codes, while facilitating the illegal trading of cultivation area codes and packing facility codes. According to the police, the alleged misconduct caused serious damage to the legitimate rights and interests of durian growers and exporting businesses, resulted in substantial losses to the State budget, and undermined the reputation and brand of Vietnam's agricultural sector. The Ministry of Public Security has also prosecuted and detained Nguyen Thi Ha, head of the Regional Plant Quarantine Division No. 7 under the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection, and Be Thi Thu Hien, head of the Huu Nghi-Lang Son Plant Quarantine Station, on charges of forgery in office. The police are continuing to expand the inquiry to clarify the alleged offenses committed by the defendants and other related individuals at state management agencies, testing organizations and entities granted cultivation area and packing facility codes. Authorities will propose legal action in accordance with the law while pursuing the recovery of state assets linked to the case. Earlier on Tuesday, the Secretariat of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee decided to expel Trung from the Party for violations. Information Source: VnExpress International