Police of HCM City and Hà Nội search the offices of Việt Nam Register in HCM City and Hà Nội on Wednesday as part of the investigation into bribery and forgery cases involving roadworthiness registration centres in the southern region. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — The Ministry of Transport on Thursday asked the Việt Nam Register, in charge of roadworthiness licences for vehicles, to strengthen management after a string of scandals hit the inspection centres.

As of Wednesday, a total of 43 people have been detained and prosecuted by HCM City’s police for ‘taking bribes’, ‘receiving bribes’, ‘brokering bribes’, and ‘forgery in the discharge of duties’ across nine vehicle registration centres in HCM City and other southern provinces (Long An, Tiền Giang, Sóc Trăng, Đồng Tháp, and Bến Tre).

The case was discovered after HCM City’s traffic police officers discovered a mismatch between the actual dimensions of a truck and the figures recorded on the database of the registration centre earlier in October.

Through the admission of the driver and the owner of the vehicle, HCM City police then uncovered about 70,000 other vehicles that similarly did not pass roadworthiness or environmental standards but still received proper registration licences to be on the road.

The directors of the registration centres were said to have directed the staff to turn a blind eye to the violations of the vehicles in exchange for bribery, totalling about VNĐ10 billion (US$422,700).

Police in Hà Nội and HCM City have also investigated the land motorised vehicle registration departments under the Việt Nam Register and summoned all people that might be involved in the case.

The transport ministry ordered the Việt Nam Register to strictly comply with anti-corruption tasks as stated by the transport minister, review the registration procedures and ensure normal operations of all centres across the country, especially during the New Year holidays.

All civil servants and public employees under the Việt Nam Register’s management that break internal rules and regulations of agencies, violate ethics, lifestyle obligations, and other laws when performing tasks and official duties will be strictly handled. — VNS