Two former Vice Chairmen of Lao Cai Province Arrested
Mr. Nguyen Thanh Duong and Mr. Le Ngoc Hung were arrested on charges related to the illegal extraction of apatite ore.
On June 23, Mr. Duong, 63, and Mr. Hung, 62, both former Vice Chairmen of the People's Committee of Lao Cai province, were charged and detained by the Lao Cai Provincial Police Investigation Agency for investigation into the crime of...Abusing one's position and authority while performing official duties.
Under the same charges, authorities also prosecuted Mai Dinh Dinh, 61, former Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment; Phan Van Cuong, 60, Deputy Director of the Department of Industry and Trade; and Nguyen Van Binh, 62, former member of the Board of Directors of Vietnam Apatite Company Limited. Of these, two were taken into temporary custody; Mr. Binh was placed under a travel ban.
This is a new development as the Lao Cai Provincial Police expand their investigation into the illegal apatite mining case that occurred at Lilama and Apatit Vietnam companies.
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Police are examining the scene. Photo:Lao Cai Police
The irregularities in the case were initially identified as originating in 2009 when Lilama Company was granted permission by the Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee to implement a restaurant and hotel project in Dong Tuyen commune, Lao Cai city, on an area of 3.77 hectares. However, immediately after receiving the land, the company's leaders illegally exploited apatite for profit, causing losses to the state budget.
In 2017, the Government Inspectorate concluded that the Provincial Department of Construction's recommendation of a 3.77-hectare project site, despite it not being within the planned land use for service purposes, and the Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee's decision to allow the investor to exploit apatite ore, violated the Mineral Resources Law.
Previously, police had initiated legal proceedings against Nguyen Ngoc Bich (former Chairman of Vietnam Apatite Company), along with Luong Van Na (former Deputy General Director), Cao Van Tham (former Deputy Head of Market Planning Department), Nguyen Manh Thua (Director of Lilama Construction and Trading Company), Nguyen Quang Huy (former General Director of Apatit), and Pham Cao Khiem (Deputy General Director of Apatit), to investigate them for the same crime.Violations of regulations concerning research, exploration, and exploitation of resources.According to Article 227 of the Penal Code.
