From left: Former Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Ba Hoan; Director Tong Hai Nam; former Deputy Director Nguyen Gia Liem; and Deputy Director Phạm Viet Huong. — VNA/VNS
HANOI: Vietnamese authorities have initiated a criminal investigation against Nguyen Ba Hoan, former Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (now Ministry of Home Affairs), along with three other officials, over allegations of bribery.
Preliminary findings suggest that Hoan allegedly directed the Department of Overseas Labour Management to impose licensing requirements that were not legally mandated for companies involved in labour export contracts.
These additional conditions reportedly created obstacles for businesses, effectively compelling them to offer bribes to ministry and department officials to secure approval for their operations.
Investigators revealed that companies concealed these illicit payments by inflating service fees charged to workers, often exceeding legal limits, thereby misappropriating funds from them.
On June 3 and June 10, authorities issued supplementary decisions to prosecute the case, along with arrest warrants, search orders, and preventive measures.
The three other officials from the Department of Overseas Labour Management now facing prosecution are director Tong Hai Nam, former Deputy Director Nguyen Gia Liem, and Deputy Director Phạm Viet Huong.
The authorities have called on businesses and individuals involved to come forward to be considered for leniency under the law. — Vietnam News/ANN
