Authorities arrest the Director, Deputy Director, and 12 officials of a vehicle inspection center in Bac Ninh.

On December 29th, the Investigation Police Department of Bac Ninh province issued a decision to initiate a criminal case of "Receiving Bribes" occurring at the 99-03D Road Motor Vehicle Inspection Center in Pho Moi, Que Vo district (Bac Ninh); indicting 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 other vehicle 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); and Duong Van Vinh (born in 1986), residing in Dong Ky, Tu Son (Bac Ninh).

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

The case was uncovered through intelligence gathering and reports from citizens and transport companies in Bac Ninh province regarding a road vehicle inspection center engaging in harassment, creating difficulties, suggesting bribery, and accepting kickbacks to facilitate the inspection of vehicles that did not meet regulations. The Criminal Investigation Agency of the Bac Ninh Provincial Police then launched a special investigation.

Based on the investigation results, the police have clarified that many transport companies were extorted by individuals posing as vehicle inspectors from the 99-03D Vehicle Inspection Center during the vehicle inspection process.

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

Colonel Nguyen Van Hue, Deputy Director and Head of the Criminal Investigation Agency of Bac Ninh Provincial Police, stated that the investigation agency has determined that from 2018 to the present, Mr. Duong Trung Lam, Director; Mr. Duong Dinh Phu, Deputy Director of the 99-03D Vehicle Inspection Center; and the inspectors have agreed to collect "bribes" ranging from 200,000 to 500,000 VND per vehicle.

When taking a vehicle for inspection, car owners have to pay the aforementioned "bribe" to have certain technical faults of their cars overlooked, such as failing emissions tests (which would be rectified) or having malfunctioning brake lights. The money is collected directly from car owners during inspections by the inspectors, either in cash or via bank transfer.

At the end of the day, Tran Van Nhat (a vehicle inspector at the center) and the other inspectors collected the extra money and distributed it to everyone who worked at the inspection center that day.

The Investigation Department of the Bac Ninh Provincial Police sealed the documents.

Initially, the police determined that the 99-03D Vehicle Inspection Center received an estimated 1.3 billion VND in bribes (in 2020) and 1.6 billion VND (in 2021). Notably, from January 2022 until their arrest, the suspects inspected nearly 18,000 vehicles, totaling approximately 3.6 billion VND. Members of the 99-03D Vehicle Inspection Center admitted to all their bribery activities.

Colonel Nguyen Van Hue - Deputy Director and Head of the Criminal Investigation Agency of Bac Ninh Provincial Police - announced the results of the investigation.

On December 29th, the Investigation Police Department of Bac Ninh province issued a decision to initiate a criminal case of "Receiving Bribes" occurring at the 99-03D Vehicle Inspection Center and decided to prosecute 14 defendants. Bac Ninh province police are continuing to investigate and expand the case.

The Bac Ninh Provincial Police are urging vehicle owners who have been harassed, intimidated, or extorted for bribes by staff at vehicle inspection centers to cooperate with the police to resolve and strictly handle these violations.