Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security announced on Saturday that the Police Investigation Agency has decided to indict and arrest Mai Tien Dung, the former head of a Vietnamese government agency, on charges of abuse of power or abuse of position in the course of official duties. The charges are related to bribery cases and abuse of authority that occurred in the central plateau region of Lam Dong province and some related areas.
Article 356 of Vietnam's Penal Code provides that abuse of power or position in the performance of official duties is punishable by up to three years' community imprisonment or one to five years' imprisonment. Additionally, if the crime is committed more than once, the defendant will be sentenced to 5 to 10 years in prison.
The accusations come as Vietnam continues to step up its anti-corruption campaign. The movement, known as the “Burning Furnace”, achieved impressive results, with 60,000 people resigning between 2021 and 2023. On May 2, 2024, the Central Executive Committee accepted Mr. Vuong Dinh Hue's resignation as Speaker of the National Assembly. Vuong Dinh Hue was also accused of violating regulations on the responsibility of officials to set an example and regulations on what party members must not do.
