Deputy trade minister arrested for taking bribes in oil trading company scandal

Vietnam's Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, Do Thang Hai, has been arrested for alleged violations related to a case involving bribery, power abuse, and mismanagement of state assets linked to an oil trading company. The arrest comes as part of an ongoing investigation by the Ministry of Public Security. Do Thang Hai is accused of receiving bribes, and his detention marks a significant development in the corruption case. Vietnam has been actively addressing corruption within its government and state-owned enterprises in recent years.

Do Thang Hai, the Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade in Vietnam, has been arrested in connection with a wide-ranging case involving allegations of bribery, power abuse, and mismanagement of state assets linked to the Xuyen Viet Oil Travel and Transport Trading Company. This arrest marks a significant development in an ongoing investigation into corruption within the trade ministry, shedding light on a web of improprieties related to the management of state resources.

Do Thang Hai has been a prominent figure within the ministry, serving as its spokesman for several years before becoming the Deputy Minister in 2014. Over the course of his tenure, Hai held various key positions, including overseeing the domestic market department, the European-American market department, and the bureau of industry. He played a crucial role in providing guidance on issues such as fuel, trade promotion, and market dynamics in European and American countries.

The Party Central Committee's Inspection Commission revealed that Do Thang Hai, along with several other officials from the trade ministry's Party Committees for both the 2016-2021 and the 2021-2026 terms, was implicated in various violations. These infractions primarily relate to the formulation of policies for the development of solar and wind power and the approval of fuel business operations.

Hai's arrest is part of a broader case involving allegations of bribery and mismanagement of state resources at the Xuyen Viet Oil Travel and Transport Trading Company and affiliated entities. The company's Director, Mai Thi Hong Hanh, and a subordinate, Nguyen Thi Nhu Phuong, were also arrested for their roles in the reported violations related to the management of the company and the use of public assets.

Additionally, the investigation has ensnared other high-profile figures, including Le Duy Minh, Director of the Ho Chi Minh Finance Department, who was arrested earlier for allegedly receiving bribes connected to the case. Le Duc Tho, a former Party secretary of Ben Tre Province in the Mekong Delta, is facing charges of power abuse in connection to the same case.

The Xuyen Viet Oil Travel and Transport Trading Company, established in 2005 and headquartered in Ho Chi Minh City, faced scrutiny leading to the cancellation of its license for exporting and importing oil by the trade ministry in August. An inspection had uncovered several violations of oil distribution regulations, contributing to the company's legal troubles.

As the investigation unfolds, the arrest of Do Thang Hai and other implicated officials underscores the Vietnamese government's commitment to combating corruption within its ranks and state-owned enterprises. The case is likely to have broader implications for the country's anti-corruption efforts and may lead to further legal actions against those involved.