A Party Secretary of a commune was arrested for committing a crime while serving as chairman.

On September 7, the Investigation Police Agency (Ninh Binh Provincial Police) has just initiated a case, prosecuted the accused and temporarily detained Mr. Pham Ngoc Duan (born in 1972, residing in Khanh Trung commune, Yen Khanh district), Secretary of the Party Committee of Khanh Trung commune (former Chairman of Khanh Trung commune People's Committee) and Pham Khac Thang (born in 1964, residing in Khanh Trung commune), Chairman of the Board of Directors of Quyet Trung Agricultural Cooperative to investigate the act of "Taking advantage of position and power while performing official duties".

According to the Investigation Police Agency, in 2019-2020, when Ninh Binh province had a policy to support the purchase of agricultural production machines, at that time, Mr. Duân, Chairman of Khanh Trung Commune People's Committee, directed Mr. Thang to buy 4 used rice transplanters at a price of 190 million VND/machine.

After purchasing the machines, Mr. Duân and Mr. Thắng created fake documents to request financial support to buy 4 100% new machines at a price of 350 million VND/machine to take advantage of the state budget.

Mr. Thang then made a settlement file to support the state budget in January 2021. Mr. Thang's cooperative was supported with 4 rice transplanters worth 1 billion VND, causing a loss to the state budget of 430 million VND.

At the police station, Mr. Duân and Mr. Thắng admitted their crimes and voluntarily paid 430 million VND to the state budget.

Previously, the Ninh Binh Provincial Police Department initiated a case, prosecuted and temporarily detained many leaders, former leaders and directors of cooperatives in Yen Khanh district (Ninh Binh) for their involvement in falsifying documents on supporting agricultural production machinery in the area.

The case is under further investigation and clarification.