Hanoi charges officials with graft

Hanoi charges officials with graft

VIETNAM: Vietnam has charged two vice ministers of agriculture for irresponsibility in a corruption case that caused losses of US$7.48 million to the government, state media reported on Friday.

The official Hanoi Moi (New Hanoi) daily said state prosecutors have pressed charges against former vice ministers Nguyen Thien Luan and Nguyen Quang Ha for causing state property losses.

Prosecutors accused Luan and Ha along with another six government employees in a corruption case centered on La Thi Kim Oanh, 48. The six were charged with embezzlement of state property, abusing power and irresponsibility.

In March state media cited police investigation reports as saying Oanh, director of an agriculture ministry-run company, and accomplices used bank loans for bribery and personal expenses, resulting in total losses of $7.48 million to the state.

Police reports say Ha and Luan signed various documents which helped Oanh obtain bank loans.

If found guilty, the two could be jailed for up to 12 years. -- Reuters