Duong Chi Dung, a former director of the Vietnam Maritime Administration, has been extradited to Hanoi.

>> Fugitive ex-official Duong Chi Dung arrested abroad.

>> PM closely monitors Duong Chi Dung’s case: Minister.

>> State agencies call for confession from Dung’s aids.

As of 7:30 am, Dung, accompanied by investigators of the police department for investigating corruption crimes (C48), arrived at Hanoi Noi Bai International Airport via Gate 4.

Prior to that, Dung was on board of the Vietnam Airlines’ VN1166 flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi.

There was a large number of policemen gathering at the airport for the extradition of Duong Chi Dung.

The Ministry of Public Security announced on September 5 that Vietnam police captured Duong Chi Dung one day earlier.

Dung, 55, was nabbed reportedly in another Southeast Asian nation, and was now being extradited to Vietnam by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), said the ministry.

He had been wanted internationally since May 18 following his alleged economic offenses when he was board chairman of the state-owned Vietnam National Shipping Lines (Vinalines).

An indictment and arrest warrant was issued for him one day earlier but he was not found at home or in office.

Dung has been wanted internationally since May 19 following his alleged economic offenses when he was the board chairman of Vinalines.

According to the Interpol documents, Dung “intentionally flouted 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.

Vu Duc Dam, Minister-Chairman of the Government Office said in at the monthly conference of the Government Office on September 5 that Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung had very closely monitored the arrest of fugitive official Duong Chi Dung.

The general inspection of Vinalines for investigation, prosecution and the application of preventive measures, especially for Duong Chi Dung, have been conducted in accordance with the provisions of the law, said Minister Dam.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has ordered relevant state agencies to handle this case very closely from the beginning, as prescribed by law, he added.

“The PM’s direction follows his statement that that all persons are equal before the law, without any exception.”

Those who helped conceal fugitive official Duong Chi Dung and aided him in fleeing from Vietnam will receive clemency if they turn themselves to police soon, said the Ministry of Public Security on September 5.

The same message was repeated by Vu Duc Dam, Minister-Chairman of the Government Office at the meeting at the Government Office on the same day.

Those who abetted Dung by covering up so that he could escape to another nation should confess as soon as possible, said Dam.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung had ordered a clarification of whether or not there was a cover up to allow Dung to escape in order to determine appropriate punishments, he added.