Comprehensive investigation into the case of the deputy director losing 385 million VND in Long An
In addition to the laptop, the investigation agency also clarified the amount of money that the Deputy Director of the Department of Environmental Protection Control lost at the hotel when he went to Long An for inspection.
Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Minh Sang, Chief of Staff of Long An Provincial Police, said that for over a month, Tan An City Police have been urgently investigating the case of Deputy Director of the Department of Environmental Protection Control (General Department of Environment, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment), Mr. Nguyen Xuan Quang (42 years old), who lost property at a hotel but has not yet had any results. Because the victim claimed to have lost both money and a laptop, the police are investigating both types of property, not just the laptop as previously reported by the press.
"If the victim claims to have lost something, then that is what is investigated. There is no way to investigate one thing and ignore another. The investigation of the crime scene and taking statements from the people involved were done very carefully by Tan An City Police," said Mr. Sang.
Ten days ago, at a press conference at the Long An Provincial People's Committee, Colonel Pham Huu Chau, Head of the Investigation Police Department and Deputy Director of the Long An Provincial Police, said that Tan An City Police had prosecuted the theft of Mr. Quang's property at Thanh Van 2 Hotel, Ward 2, Tan An City.
However, the investigation agency only focused on clarifying the stolen property, which was the laptop, because it was quantifiable and had a basis for confirmation.
"Regarding the information from the victim, Mr. Quang, the amount of money stolen from room 209 of the hotel is 385 million VND, which is still being verified for consideration," said Colonel Chau.
Cannot investigate "interrupted"
Lawyer Nguyen Truong Thanh (Can Tho City Bar Association) said that Mr. Quang declared that he lost 385 million VND and the laptop, so the police must investigate both. When the suspect is arrested, then the next step is to determine whether the amount of money the victim declared is correct and the amount of theft or not.
"It's not right to only investigate the laptop theft. Once you have initiated a case, you have to investigate it comprehensively, you can't cut it short," Mr. Thanh said.
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| The hotel where Mr. Quang lost his property. Photo: Ai Loan |
Sharing the same opinion with his colleague, lawyer Trinh Vinh Phuc (Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association) said that in principle, the police must investigate all issues that the victim disclosed, especially since this case has been mentioned a lot in the press.
"There is no reason to be afraid of public opinion, afraid of speaking clearly and tracing the source of that money and avoid it. This is not simply a case of lost money, but public opinion also raises questions about where this money came from, how it came about, and how it is related to a civil servant performing his duties," said lawyer Phuc.
According to lawyer Phuc, this case is very sensitive, related to the businesses that Mr. Quang inspected, so it cannot be interrupted, only investigating the loss of the laptop as reported at the press conference on October 25. Such interruption could be a sign of wrongdoing, even from the beginning there were signs of falsifying records.
"The loss of the laptop in this case can be understood as someone taking this property to exploit information or hide data. But here people also mentioned that he lost money and valuable property, so a comprehensive investigation is required," said lawyer Phuc.
In September 2017, while carrying out a plan to inspect 30 businesses in Long An on environmental protection, Mr. Quang and some members of the inspection team rented a room at Thanh Van 2 Hotel. On the morning of September 26, Mr. Quang reported that a laptop and 385 million VND had been stolen.
According to Zing.vn
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