Vietnam jails 23 people over rare earths exploitation

Defendants standing during their trial for illegal exploitation and exports of rare earths at the People’s Court in Hanoi. - Photo: AFP

HANOI: A Vietnamese court on Wednesday (May 21) jailed 23 officials and business people over the illegal exploitation and export of rare earths.

The trial comes after the US Geological Survey (USGS) this year significantly revised down its estimate of rare earth deposits in Vietnam, which it once considered the world's second largest.