21-12-2023 (HANOI) Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, Do Thang Hai, has been apprehended by Vietnamese police on accusations of bribery, according to an announcement by the country’s security ministry on Thursday.
Hai’s arrest is linked to an ongoing investigation into alleged misconduct at an oil trading firm in southern Vietnam, as detailed by the police-run Ministry of Public Security in a statement.
The arrest takes place within the context of Vietnam’s sustained anti-corruption campaign, which has seen numerous officials scrutinized and compelled to resign. This includes high-profile figures such as former president Nguyen Xuan Phuc and two deputy prime ministers.
As of now, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has not responded to a Reuters request for comment on the matter.
In a simultaneous move, police conducted searches at Hai’s residence and office, as reported by the state-run Tuoi Tre newspaper, quoting police sources.
