Province chief received $300,000 as 'thank you' money after allowing illegal sand mining: cops

They recommended a charge of "abuse of power or position during the performance of official duties" against Binh Wednesday as they wrapped up investigations of alleged violations at the Trung Hau 68 Joint Stock Company, the province Department of Natural Resources and Environment and other entities.

He was arrested in December 2023.

Two others will be charged with taking bribes: Tran Anh Thu, a former vice chairman of the province, and Nguyen Viet Tri, a former director of the natural resources department.

Le Quang Binh, president of Trung Hau 68 JSC, will face charges of giving bribes, violations of regulations governing survey, exploration and extraction of natural resources and money laundering.

In early 2020 the An Giang People’s Committee was about to approve sand mining in Cho Moi District for road construction when Binh met several officials and sought approval also for his company.

Officials knew that Trung Hau 68 did not qualify for a sand mining license but Nguyen Thanh Binh, Tri and other officials ordered their subordinates to issue one nevertheless in return for material gains, the police said.

Between December 2021 and July 2023 the company mined over five million cubic meters of sand, but only supplied 1.3 million cubic meters to the road project contractors and sold the rest in the market for VND294 billion ($11.58 million).

In 2022 and 2023 Le Quang Binh allegedly gave Nguyen Thanh Binh a total of $300,000 as "thank you money."

He gave Thu VND961 million (US$37,800) and Tri VND3.1 billion ($122,060), police said.