Police in Hai Phong have detained the vice police chief of a commune for forging papers for a former anti-smuggling officer to use in helping Duong Chi Dung, former chairman of Vietnam National Shipping Lines (Vinalines), hide from authorities until his arrest in September. Pham Dinh Nghien, 46, deputy chief of police of An Tho Commune, An Lao District, is suspected to have counterfeited papers for Dong Xuan Phong, 38, a former anti-smuggling officer in Hai Phong, which he used to assist Dung in hiding from police after Dung fled on May 17. Last month, the police also seized Vu Van Sau, former chief of police of the commune, for the same offense. Dung, 55, who was also former director of the Vietnam Maritime Administration, was arrested on September 4 following an international wanted notice for alleged economic offenses when he was board chairman of state-owned Vinalines.
After Dung’s arrest, Phong was indicted for “hiding criminals,” but he fled his residence in mid-July and has been wanted ever since. According to investigators, on November 2, 2011 Sau gave Phong an ID card bearing the name Hoang Van Linh with Phong’s photo. Phong later used this false card to apply for a passport under the name of Linh and then used it in helping Dung flee Vietnam.
Dung has been charged with “intentionally flouting state regulations on economic management, leading to serious consequences” when selecting bidders to provide a floating dock worth millions of dollars for Vinalines during his term at the corporation.