Prosecution of former Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment and 6 accomplices

The Department of Investigation Police on Corruption, Economic Crimes, and Smuggling ( Ministry of Public Security ) is investigating the case of “Violating regulations on research, exploration, and exploitation of natural resources; Violating regulations on accounting causing particularly serious consequences; Smuggling; Consuming assets obtained through criminal acts of others; Violating regulations on management and use of State assets causing loss and waste” occurring at Thai Duong Group Joint Stock Company and related units.

Based on the results of the expanded investigation of the case, on July 22, 2024, the Department of Investigation Police on Crimes of Corruption, Economy, and Smuggling issued a decision to prosecute the accused, an arrest warrant for temporary detention, and a search warrant for 5 accused for the crime of "Violating regulations on management and use of State assets causing loss and waste", stipulated in Clause 3, Article 219 of the 2015 Penal Code, including: Nguyen Linh Ngoc, former Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment; Nguyen Van Thuan, former General Director of the General Department of Geology and Minerals of Vietnam; Hoang Van Khoa, former Director of the Department of Minerals, General Department of Geology and Minerals of Vietnam; Ho Duc Hop, Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Yen Bai province; Le Cong Tien, Deputy Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Yen Bai province.

In addition, the Department of Investigation Police on Corruption, Economic Crimes, and Smuggling also issued a decision to prosecute the accused, a Prohibition Order to Leave the Place of Residence and a Search Warrant for 2 accused for the crime of "Violating regulations on management and use of State assets causing loss and waste", stipulated in Clause 3, Article 219 of the Penal Code 2015, including: Mr. Bui Doan Nhu, former Head of the Minerals Department, Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Yen Bai province and Le Duy Phuong, former Chief Expert of the Minerals Department, General Department of Geology and Minerals.

After the Supreme People's Procuracy (Department 5) approved, the Department of Investigation Police on Corruption, Economic Crimes, and Smuggling of the Ministry of Public Security coordinated with relevant units to organize the implementation of Decisions and Procedural Orders against the above defendants to ensure compliance with the provisions of law.

Currently, the Department of Investigation Police on Corruption, Economic Crimes and Smuggling is focusing its forces to consolidate documents and evidence on the criminal acts of the accused, expand the investigation into related subjects to strictly handle them according to the provisions of the law; review, verify and thoroughly recover assets for the State.