Arrest of Director, Deputy Director and 12 officers of the Vehicle Inspection Center in Bac Ninh

On December 29, the Investigation Police Agency of Bac Ninh Province issued a decision to prosecute the case of "Accepting bribes" that occurred at the Road Vehicle Inspection Center 99 - 03D, in Moi Street, Que Vo District (Bac Ninh); prosecuted 14 defendants including: Duong Trung Lam (born in 1980), residing in Ninh Xa Ward, Bac Ninh City - Director of the Inspection Center; Duong Dinh Phu (born in 1985), residing in Tan Chi Commune, Tien Du District - Deputy Director; Dang Ba Phuong (born in 1982), residing in Dong Sai, Phu Lang, Que Vo - Senior Inspector; Trinh Van Giap (born in 1992), residing in Dao Vien, Que Vo - Senior Inspector.

In addition, there are 5 inspectors: Tran Van Nhat (born in 1982), residing in Que Tan, Que Vo; Do Van Vien (born in 1991), residing in Viet Yen (Bac Giang); Nguyen Van Binh (born in 1990), residing in Phu Lang, Que Vo; Ong Xuan Thuan (born in 1989), residing in Nham Bien town, Yen Dung (Bac Giang); Duong Van Vung (born in 1986), residing in Dong Ky, Tu Son (Bac Ninh).

In addition, the Investigation Police Agency of Bac Ninh Province also prosecuted 6 subjects from the professional department of the above Vehicle Inspection Center, including: Nguyen Thi Thuy (born in 1992), residing in Chi Lang, Que Vo - accountant of the Vehicle Inspection Center; Nguyen Thi Minh Thu (born in 1995), residing in Bang An, Que Vo, cashier and road toll collector, vehicle inspection; Ha Thi Hang (born in 1991), residing in Mao Dien, Thuan Thanh (Bac Ninh) - photographer, file archivist and 2 employees: Tran Thi Thu (born in 1997), residing in Ngoc Xa, Que Vo; Nguyen Van Thang (born in 1985), residing in Van Ha, Viet Yen (Bac Giang).

The case was discovered through the work of grasping the situation of people and transport companies in Bac Ninh province's reflection on the situation of a road motor vehicle inspection center harassing, causing difficulties, suggesting, and receiving bribes to facilitate the inspection of cars that do not meet regulations. The Investigation Police Agency and Bac Ninh Provincial Police have established a special project to fight.

Based on the investigation results, the Police Agency has clarified that many transport companies were asked by inspectors of the 99-03D Inspection Center to pay money during the process of inspecting the company's vehicles.

The Investigation Police Agency of Bac Ninh Province executed a search warrant at the Vehicle Inspection Center 99 - 03D.

Colonel Nguyen Van Hue - Deputy Director, Head of the Investigation Police Agency of Bac Ninh Province Police said that the Investigation Agency has determined that from 2018 to present, Mr. Duong Trung Lam - Director; Mr. Duong Dinh Phu - Deputy Director of Inspection Center 99 - 03D and the inspectors have agreed with each other on collecting "grease money", with the amount from 200,000 - 500,000 VND/vehicle.

When registering a vehicle, the owner must pay the above "grease money" to be given the opportunity to ignore some technical errors of the car, such as incorrect emissions, or ignored brake lights that do not light up. The collection of money from the vehicle owners when registering is done by the inspectors, either in cash or by bank transfer.

At the end of the day, Tran Van Nhat (the center's inspector) and other inspectors gathered the money collected outside, then divided it among everyone working at the inspection center that day.

The Criminal Investigation Agency of Bac Ninh Provincial Police sealed the documents.

Initially, the Police Agency clarified that Inspection Center 99 - 03D received an estimated bribe of about 1.3 billion VND (in 2020) and about 1.6 billion VND (in 2021). Notably, from January 2022 until their arrest, the subjects had inspected nearly 18,000 vehicles for about 3.6 billion VND. Members of Inspection Center 99 - 03D admitted to all of their acts of bribery.

Colonel Nguyen Van Hue - Deputy Director, Head of the Investigation Police Agency of Bac Ninh Province Police announced the investigation results.

On December 29, the Investigation Police Agency, Bac Ninh Provincial Police issued a decision to prosecute the case of “Receiving bribes” that occurred at the Inspection Center 99-03D and decided to prosecute 14 defendants. Bac Ninh Provincial Police are continuing to investigate and expand the case.

Bac Ninh Provincial Police request that vehicle owners who are harassed, abused, or charged bribes by nearby inspection center staff cooperate with the Police Department to resolve and strictly handle violations.