LAO CAI, (Vietnam): Two men have been arrested and remanded in custody in connection with the collapse of stone railings at embankment works in the then Lao Cai City following Typhoon Yagi in 2024, the Lao Cai Provincial Police announced.
The arrests came after public reports in December 2024 drew attention to the deterioration and damage of stone railing systems at two construction works in the city – the replacement of the stone railing system along the Hong River embankment on An Duong Vuong Street (from Coc Leu Bridge to Pho Moi Bridge), and the railing adjustment component of the anti-landslide embankment on the right bank of the Hong River (from Pho Moi Bridge to the mouth of Ngoi Dum stream).
Investigations found that the stone railing systems had been built in breach of technical standards: mortise sections were insufficient, and stone mortises and principal structural components had been only superficially bonded with binding materials.
Many stone columns and panel sections also showed signs of erosion and weathering and failed to meet quality requirements. The violations caused losses to State assets totalling more than VNĐ13 billion (US$499,000).
On June 2, the Criminal Investigation Agency of the Lao Cai Provincial Police issued prosecution decisions and remand orders against two suspects.
Dao Minh Khanh, born 1976, of Quarter 23, Kim Tan, Lao Cai Ward, Lao Cai Province – currently vice chairman of the People's Committee of Coc San Commune and formerly head of the Urban Management Division of Lao Cai City before the administrative merger – was charged with "Dereliction of duty causing serious consequences" under Clause 3, Article 360 of the Penal Code.
Nguyen Duc Giang, born 1987, of Tho Tang Commune, Phu Tho Province, currently director of Uy Long Construction Investment Joint Stock Company, was charged with "Violations of construction regulations causing serious consequences" under Clause 3, Article 298 of the Penal Code.
Following approval by the Lao Cai Provincial People's Procuracy, the remand orders against Khanh and Giang were executed on June 2.
This is not the first set of arrests in the case.
On Nov 16, 2025, the Criminal Investigation Agency had already issued prosecution decisions and applied procedural measures against four other suspects: Pham Khac Phoung, born 1966, former deputy head of the Lao Cai City Construction Investment Project Management Board, now retired; Vu Tuan Anh, born 1991, an official of the Lao Cai–Coc San Regional Construction Investment Project Management Board; Cao Kim Cuong, born 1980, director of Hung Mạnh Construction Consultancy Joint Stock Company – all three charged with "Violations of construction regulations causing serious consequences"; and Nguyen Thu Ha, born 1993, charged with "Dereliction of duty causing serious consequences".
The Criminal Investigation Agency is continuing to expand its investigation to identify and take legal action against other individuals and entities involved in the case. - Vietnam News/ANN
