Party's external relations specialist arrested in repatriation flight scandal

By Pham Du   October 27, 2022 | 05:42 am PT
Party's external relations specialist arrested in repatriation flight scandal
Le Thi Ngoc Anh, a specialist at the Communist Party's external relations commission. Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Public Security
A specialist of the Communist Party's Central Commission for External Relations has been arrested for her involvement in the Covid-19 repatriation flight bribery scandal.

Le Thi Ngoc Anh, 38, a specialist of the commission's Reception Department, was arrested to be investigated for "obtaining property by fraud," spokesman of the Ministry of Public Security To An Xo said Thursday.

Tao Duc Hiep, 46, director of the Vietnam Railways Trade Union Tourist company, was arrested the same day to be investigated for "giving bribes."

The arrests are the latest developments of a Covid-19 repatriation flight scandal involving bribery and fraud that involved officials in multiple ministries and other governmental entities. Over eight months of investigation, 25 people have been arrested, including then Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs To Anh Dung.

Police are gathering records on the organization of all repatriation flights, including operating carriers and quarantine hotels.

The Ministry of Public Security said in June that each repatriation flight earned profits of several billion Vietnamese dong (VND1 billion = $43,600) after deducting costs.

Vietnam had operated around 400 repatriation flights to bring home residents stranded overseas.

 
 
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