2 more arrested in pandemic flight bribery scandal

By Pham Du May 6, 2022 | 09:15 pm PT

Nguyen Thi Tuong Vi (L) and Nguyen Thi Dung Hanh, two company directors of Hanoi who have been arrested for allegedly giving bribes in the organization of Covid-19 repatriation flights. Photos by the police

Two company chiefs in Hanoi were arrested Friday in connection with the investigation into the bribe for repatriation case in which a deputy minister has already been taken in.

Nguyen Thi Tuong Vi, 42, director of ATA Vietnam Consultation and Investment Co. Ltd, and Nguyen Thi Dung Hanh, 50, director of G Vietnam Co. Ltd, which operates domestic and international travel businesses, are now under investigation for "giving bribes," To An Xo, the spokesman for the Ministry of Public Security, said.

It is the latest development in the investigation into bribery accusations surrounding the organization of flights to bring Vietnamese citizens home amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

In January general director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' consular department, Nguyen Thi Huong Lan, and three other ministry officials were arrested on suspicion of accepting bribes.

In March Nguyen Dieu Mo, general director of the An Binh Air Services and Tourism Trading Co. Ltd in Hanoi, was arrested for allegedly paying bribes.

Last month Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs To Anh Dung was arrested for taking bribes for organizing repatriation flights.

Since the pandemic broke out, Vietnam has organized around 400 flights to bring back over 70,000 citizens from over 60 countries and territories.

Many people had to buy very expensive tickets and complete tortuous procedures to get a seat on one.