Ho Chi Minh City land staffer arrested for asking bribes from building permit applicant

A Tuoi Tre (Youth) Newspaper source confirmed on Friday that police in Binh Tan District have made the arrest of Thai Binh Quoc, an employee at the then-Binh Tan District Land Use Rights Registration Office, for “swindling to appropriate assets.”

The office where Quoc worked has changed its name to be known as the Binh Tan District Land Registration Office.

Quoc was accused of requesting a building permit applicant in Ho Chi Minh City to pay him VND50 million (US$2,230) and $5,000 as bribes.

Heeding a tip-off, the district police gathered evidence on Quoc’s wrongdoings after he had received millions of dong from his “victim.” (VND1 million = US$44)

The investigative agency has also searched his workplace and home and seized loads of materials pertaining to his offence following his apprehension.

The Binh Tan District Police has also worked with the Binh Tan District Land Registration Office regarding the incidence.

In late March 2015 Pham Ngoc Yen, 40, a resident in Tan Binh District, filed her first application with the Binh Tan District Urban Management Office for a permit to build a house on a plot of land in Binh Tan’s Tan Tao A Ward, she told Tuoi Tre newspaper earlier.

Her first application was rejected, however.

Quoc then suggested she pay him VND120 million ($5,360) in exchange for his help in obtaining a construction permit quicker.

Yen refused the suggestion, to which Quoc responded that he would ensure that she would never be granted a permit.

After this, Yen failed to get approval for her application despite it being adjusted in accordance with the requirements of many relevant agencies.

She therefore reluctantly agreed to the demand from Quoc, who had continuously threatened that she could not get a permit unless she paid a bribe.

Quoc then asked Yen to pay him two amounts, including VND50 million and $5,000 in cash.

He also told the applicant that he would arrange for her to meet district chairman.

Tuoi Tre correspondents met with Thai Binh Quoc on November 6 and he admitted that he had asked Yen to pay him VND50 million in advance before she got a construction permit.

Quoc claimed that he wanted to use the amount to “show thanks” to those who had assisted him in getting the permit for Yen.