Former staff member of Vietnamese Embassy in Malaysia investigated

Passengers on a repatriation flight arrive in Vietnam. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi - An investigation agency under the Ministry of Public Security on March 15 officially launched probes into a former staff member of the Vietnamese Embassy in Malaysia and eight others for suspected wrongdoings related to repatriation flights amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

This is the latest move in the investigation into the case of “offering bribes, brokering bribes, accepting bribes, abusing positions and power while performing duties, and swindling to appropriate assets” at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in Hanoi and other provinces and cities.

Accordingly, Dang Minh Phuong (born in 1985, former staff member of the Vietnamese Embassy in Malaysia) was banned from leaving his place of residence and had his house searched by police. He was charged with “abusing positions and power while performing duties” under Article 356 of the Penal Code.

Police also decided to enquire into and search the residence and working places of seven directors of different companies. Among the suspects, one was put into temporary detention. They were accused of “offering bribes” under Article 364 of the Penal Code.

Meanwhile, one freelancer was charged with “brokering bribes” under Article 365 of the Penal Code.

The decisions were approved by the Supreme People’s Procuracy.

At the Government’s press conference on February 2, Lt. Gen. To An Xo, Spokesman of the Ministry of Public Security, said police had launched investigations into 41 persons and seized 80 billion VND (nearly 3.4 million USD) allegedly involved in wrongdoings related to repatriation flights amid the COVID-19 pandemic.