Day: April 3, 2024

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Legal proceedings launched against more defendants in Xuyen Viet Oil case


Hanoi: Legal proceedings have been launched against three more defendants when the Investigation Security Agency is expanding investigations into violations of Xuyen Viet Oil Company, Lieutenant General To An Xo, Spokesman of the Ministry of Public Security, said on April 3.

Tran Duy Dong, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency (Vietrade) under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, was prosecuted for receiving bribes while chief accountant of the Xuyen Viet Oil Company Dinh Tien Dung and its sales director Nguyen Tan Long were prosecuted for giving bribes.

This was the latest development of the expanded investigation of the case “Violating regulations on management and use of State assets causing loss and waste; irresponsibility causing serious consequences; giving bribes; and accepting bribes” at the Xuyen Viet Oil Company and some related agencies. The police have detained many people who held positions.

Previously, legal proceedings were launched against Director of VietinBank Thanh Xuan Br
anch Vu Trung Thanh, Deputy Director of the Xuyen Viet Oil Company’s Hanoi Branch Nguyen Van Thang, freelancer Dong Xuan Dung for giving bribes and Director of Nghi Son Oil Refinery Branch Phan Tien Anh for receiving bribes.

The Investigation Security Agency said that these defendants took advantage of the State’s policy that allows them to collect part of the petrol sales for the petroleum stabilisation fund but they did not send money into the fund’s account. These defendants fraudulently made up financial reports and improperly set up funds to get benefits personally, causing loss of State assets.

On December 14, 2023, the agency launched legal proceedings against and detained former Secretary of the Ben Tre provincial Party Committee Le Duc Tho for ‘abusing power and position to influence others for gains’.

On December 19, 2023, former Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Tax Department and Director of the HCM City Department of Finance Le Duy Minh for “receiving bribes”. On December 21, Deputy Minister of
Industry and Trade Do Thang Hai was also prosecuted and arrested for allegedly receiving bribes.

Previously, Director of Xuyen Viet Oil Mai Thi Hong Hanh, and its Deputy Director Nguyen Thi Nhu Phuong were prosecuted for “violating regulations on State asset management and use, causing loss and waste”./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

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Hanoi, Moscow cooperate in transnational, high-tech crime prevention, control


Hanoi: The Department of Public Security of Hanoi and the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for Moscow on April 3 held talks and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in many fields.

Accordingly, the two agencies will strengthen cooperation in mutual legal assistance, transnational and high-tech crime prevention and control, and ensuring security and safety of the two countries’ embassies in each other’s territories.

At the talks, Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Hai Trung, Director of the Hanoi Department of Public Security, called on the Moscow delegation to share its experience and assist the Hanoi Department of Public Security, in applying advanced technologies to ensure security and order in the city, firstly the operation of a security surveillance camera system.

He also proposed the guests to share experience in ensuring cyber security and safety; administrative and social order management; security and order management at metro stations and on urban trains as well as in gua
ranteeing security and safety of diplomatic representative agencies, businessmen, foreign students, and expatriates in the capital cities of the two countries.

The two sides will continue to implement the cooperation agreements signed by the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security and the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, especially those on mutual legal assistance, new types of crimes, and hi-tech crimes. They will devised a plan to deploy the MoU signed by the two agencies.

For his part, Deputy Head of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for Moscow Major General Novikov Vladislav Anatolievich said that the MoU signed by the two agencies will open a new period of development for both sides, helping to promote cooperation between the administrations of the two cities.

He emphasised that the Russian side is always ready to support and meet all needs of the Hanoi Department of Public Security.

At the talks, the two sides discussed issues, including cybercrime prevention and control,
information security, and the fight against transnational and organised crimes./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

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Probe into Phuc Son Group case to be expanded: officer


Hanoi: The investigation into the case at Phuc Son Group JSC will be expanded, Spokesman of the Ministry of Public Security Lt. Gen. To An Xo affirmed on April 3.

Speaking at the Government’s regular press conference in Hanoi, the officer said the ministry’s Investigation Police Agency is collecting more relevant documents and evidence, and it will further investigate the case to clarify wrongdoings by the company in localities and units.

Measures have been taken to completely recover assets for the State, he said, adding that 55 billion VND (2.19 million USD) and 1.6 million USD has been recovered and many assets have been distrained so far.

On March 27, the agency began legal proceedings against and detained Le Viet Chu, former Vice Chairman and former Chairman of the People’s Committee and Secretary of the Party Committee of Quang Ngai province; and Pham Hoang Anh, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and former Director of the Construction Department of Vinh Phuc province, for ‘receiving br
ibes.’

It was revealed that Chu allegedly received money from Nguyen Van Hau, Chairman of the Phuc Son Group JSC, to ensure that the group won a lucrative bid for the road construction on the southern bank of Tra Khuc River project in the central province of Quang Ngai.

Similarly, Anh allegedly accepted money from Hau to facilitate his company in executing a market construction project in the northern province of Vinh Phuc.

Earlier, the agency started legal actions against 15 defendants associated with the Phuc Son Group case. Notable figures among them include former Secretary of the Vinh Phuc provincial Party Committee Hoang Thi Thuy Lan, Chairman of the Vinh Phuc provincial People’s Committee Le Duy Thanh; Chairman of the Quang Ngai provincial People’s Committee Dang Van Minh; and former Chairman of the Quang Ngai provincial People’s Committee Cao Khoa.

At a recent press conference, the ministry’s economic crime investigation bureau said legal proceedings against the case involving Hau also known as “H
au Phao” began on February 26.

The Phuc Son Group has invested in 21 projects, and investigation agencies have clarified misconduct related to projects in Vinh Phuc and Quang Ngai provinces.

Investigation findings also revealed that Lan and Thanh received big sums of money, amounting to billions of Vietnam dong. Dang Trung Hoanh, Chief of the Party Committee’s Office of Mang Thit district in Vinh Long province, received a sum of 64 billion VND (2.57 million USD) from the Chairman of the Phuc Son Group./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

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Vietnam attends homeland security technology conferences in Singapore


Singapore: A delegation of the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security led by Deputy Minister Senior Lieutenant General Luong Tam Quang attended the Milipol Asia-Pacific and TechX Summit that opened in Singapore on April 3.

Now in its 10th edition, Milipol Asia-Pacific, themed “Powering Innovation: A Safe and Secure Future”, has expanded by 30% and showcases the latest innovations in homeland security. Spanning 14,500 sq.m, the exhibition has attracted the participation of over 350 exhibitors from some 31 countries.

Participating global companies include AREA S.p.A, ClearTrail Technologies, ESRI, Hikvision Technology, Innovatrix, Idemia, Microsoft, NUIX, Swissdrones, Thales Solution Asia, VMI Security and WEY Singapore Technology, to name a few.

The trade exhibition features pavilions from China, Italy, France, Germany, Hungary, Singapore and the US. The HTX Pavilion features innovations by HTX as well as exhibits from HTX’s key industry partners, such as ST Engineering, CISCO, DXC Technology and Samsung.

Themed “Artificial Intelligence and Homeland Security”, the TechX Summit delves into a spectrum of specialised topics including the deployment of AI in homeland security by governments worldwide; the industrial integration of AI; AI safety and regulation; border security and management; the fight against cybercrimes and scams; and human-centric AI innovation.

The three-day summit is hosted by Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs and the French Interior Ministry./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

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Book, reading culture day promotes digital transformation


Hanoi: The 2024 Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day will take place from April 15 to May 1, with digital transformation to be boosted to bring books to more readers, according to the Ministry of Information and Communications.

Specifically, this year’s activities will be more diverse, with modern organisation methods following the development trend of technology platforms and digital transformation such as online book fairs, those without using cash, and promotion of books and reading culture on e-newspapers and social networks.

In addition to traditional activities such as holding book weeks, fairs, and publication months, publishers and printing and distribution establishments are also encouraged to organise online distribution channels, combined with technology platforms, social networks, and e-commerce platforms to introduce and promote books, along with presenting books to vulnerable groups, and promotional programmes.

The Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day, held annually since 2022, has been consi
dered a festival for book-lovers, helping spread the value of books as well as the reading culture in the community./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency