Vietnamese police are seeking prosecution against a former Deputy Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, for his wrongdoing at the country’s social security agency that led to losses worth VND1.7 trillion (US$73 million).

The Ministry of Public Security has requested that the Supreme People’s Procuracy indict Le Bach Hong, former Deputy Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, for his role in violations at the Vietnam Social Security (VSS), which runs social insurance operations, and some relevant bodies.

Hong had been subject to disciplinary action from the Party due to multiple wrongdoings in 2012.

The ministry also ordered prosecution against Nguyen Huy Ban, former director of the VSS, and four other ex-officials of the agency.

They are all charged for “deliberate violations of state economic management regulations, causing serious consequences.”

The requests came after the Ministry of Public Security concluded their investigation into the case.

Hong was arrested in early November 2018, as part of an effort to widen probes into wrongdoing at the VSS and ALC II, a bankrupt state-owned finance leasing firm.

According to the case file, the VSS allowed ALC II to borrow more than VND1 trillion ($43 million) in 2011.

Meanwhile, regulations state that the VSS can only lend its money to state-run commercial banks.

ALC II, which declared bankruptcy in July 2018, has not been able to pay up the loan so far and the total amount of debt, including interest, has topped VND1.7 trillion ($73 million).

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