HCMC finance department head arrested for receiving bribes

The arrest, announced by spokesman for the Ministry of Public Security To An Xo, is the latest development in a larger case involving bribery and mismanagement of state resources at the Xuyen Viet Oil Travel and Transport Trading Company, and certain other associated entities.

Minh, 51, had headed the municipal tax department since 2020 until he became the director of finance in 2022.

Also related to the case, Le Duc Tho, a former Party secretary of Ben Tre Province in the Mekong Delta, was arrested for abuse of power five days prior.

Mai Thi Hong Hanh, director of Xuyen Viet Oil, and one of her subordinates, Nguyen Thi Nhu Phuong, have also been arrested for violations related to management of the company and use of public assets.

Established in 2005 and headquartered in HCMC, Xuyen Viet Oil’s markets for fuels were mainly in the Central Highlands provinces.

In August it had its license for exporting and importing oil canceled by the Ministry of Industry and Trade. An inspection had found several violations of oil distribution regulations.