POLICE WEIGH CHARGES AGAINST FORMER DEPUTY MINISTER

Former Deputy Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs Le Bach Hong, 65, who also served as the general director of Vietnam Social Security (VSS), may face prosecution for his role in causing losses worth VND1.7 trillion (US$73 million) for VSS.

A source told Tuoi Tre newspaper that the Investigative Police Agency, under the Ministry of Public Security, had reached a conclusion on an economic mismanagement case involving VSS, Finance Leasing Company No.2 (ALC II) and other organizations.

The agency has also referred the case to the Supreme People’s Procuracy. Investigators suggested charging the former VSS leader Hong with deliberate violations of State regulations on economic management leading to serious consequences.

Four others may also be indicted under the same charge: Nguyen Huy Ban, another former VSS general director; Nguyen Phuoc Tuong, former head of VSS’ Finance and Planning Department; and Tran Tien Vy and Hong Ha, both former heads of the department’s General Planning Office.

Meanwhile, Tran Thanh Thuy, a former executive of the General Planning Office, may be charged with negligence leading to serious consequences.

The former VSS leaders Hong and Ban, together with other individuals, were arrested last November as part of a wider investigation into an economic mismanagement case at ALC 2, which saw former ALC II general director Vu Quoc Hao getting the death sentence for embezzlement and intentional violations of regulations.

The investigation found that VSS gave loans exceeding the guarantee limit to ALC II, resulting in outstanding loans totaling over VND1 trillion, in 2011.

VSS is only allowed to offer loans to State-owned commercial banks, based on prevailing regulations.

In 2015, the State Audit Office of Vietnam found that the recovery of public debts at ALC II had not made any progress. ALC II still owed VSS over VND769 billion in 12 overdue loans, with interest sums reaching more than VND735 billion by late 2015.

The principal and interest now amount to over VND1.7 trillion (US$73 million).

Le Bach Hong had served as deputy minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs since 2005. By the end of 2008, in addition to his ministerial post, he was assigned to the post of general director of VSS until his retirement on March 2014. In 2012, he was reprimanded by the Party for his many violations.

Source: The Saigon Times