The Vietnamese government issued a warning against Mai Tien Dung, former Minister and Chairman of the Vietnamese Government Office, for his violations and shortcomings while on duty.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang, on behalf of the government, signed a decision to impose the disciplinary measure on Dung.

The Party Central Committee’s Secretariat on January 13 also gave a warning against Dung with effect from January 14 for his responsibility for the arrangement of repatriation flights for Vietnamese citizens during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the Secretariat, Dung, while holding the post of minister and chairman of the Vietnamese Government Office, violated Party and State regulations, showed a lack of responsibility for arranging flights for Vietnamese citizens who wanted to return home during the pandemic, and let some officials at the Government Office make proposals in contrary to the prime minister’s requirements, receive bribes and face prosecution and detention.

Dung’s violations have caused serious consequences, sparkled public concerns and affected the prestige of Party and State organizations.

Vietnam organized nearly 2,000 repatriation flights during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Ministry of Public Security.

Since the Ministry of Public Security launched an investigation into violations in the arrangement of these flights in late January, nearly 40 people have been prosecuted and detained, including many incumbent and former leaders and officials of nine ministries and agencies.

They took bribes valued at tens of billions of Vietnamese dong (VND10 billion = US$425,576) or showed a lack of responsibility.

Besides Dung, the government relieved Nguyen Van Trinh, former assistant to former Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, who had been earlier removed from his post.

The Secretariat expelled Trinh from the Party due to his wrongdoings and shortcomings while performing his duty.

Trinh became an assistant to former Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam in December 2018. 

In November last year, he was detained on charges of abusing powers and positions while on duty to influence individuals and units under the Ministry of Health to approve COVID-19 test kits of Viet A Technology Corporation and  obtain a registration number for market circulation.

According to the Secretariat, Trinh showed a degradation of morality and lifestyle, took bribes and violated the Party’s regulations and the rules for Party members, causing severe consequences and sparking public concerns.

A test kit scam involving Ho Chi Minh City-based Viet A Technology Corporation was uncovered in late 2021, when police detained Phan Quoc Viet, founder and CEO of Viet A Corp, and Pham Duy Tuyen, director of the Center for Disease Control of Hai Duong Province, northern Vietnam.  

To date, more than 90 suspects have been arrested or put under criminal investigation for their involvement in serious violations of bidding regulations, offering and receiving bribes, and abuse of powers while on duty relating to the case.

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