Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Hoàng Trung.— VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — The Ministry of Public Security has launched criminal proceedings against Hoàng Trung, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment, and ordered his detention on charges of accepting bribes under Article 354 of the Penal Code.

The police said the move forms part of an expanded investigation into a case involving the Centre for Testing, Certification and Quality Services, NhoNho Technology Co., Ltd., Thủy Fruit One Member Co., Ltd., and other organisations and individuals linked to the export of durians to China.

The Police Investigation Agency's Department for Investigating Corruption, Economic and Smuggling Crimes said its investigation found that Trung and Nguyễn Quang Hiếu, deputy director of the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection, had allegedly abused their positions to issue unlawful policies and introduce so-called "sub-licences" for the benefit of vested interests, enabling them to obtain illicit gains amounting to an exceptionally large sum.

The police also alleged that the defendants interfered in official procedures and instructed subordinates to issue fraudulent testing certificates and cultivation area codes, while facilitating the illegal trading of cultivation area codes and packing facility codes.

According to the police, the alleged misconduct caused serious damage to the legitimate rights and interests of durian growers and exporting businesses, resulted in substantial losses to the State budget, and undermined the reputation and brand of Việt Nam's agricultural sector.

The Ministry of Public Security has also prosecuted and detained Nguyễn Thị Hà, head of Regional Plant Quarantine Division No. 7 under the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection, and Bế Thị Thu Hiền, head of the Hữu Nghị-Lạng Sơn Plant Quarantine Station, on charges of forgery in office under Article 359 of the Penal Code.

The police are continuing to expand the inquiry to clarify the alleged offences committed by the defendants and other related individuals at State management agencies, testing organisations, and entities granted cultivation area and packing facility codes.

Authorities will propose legal action in accordance with the law while pursuing the recovery of State assets linked to the case.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Secretariat of the Communist Party of Việt Nam Central Committee decided to expel Trung from the Party for violations. — VNS