The police have not obtained any evidence that the former Vietnam Maritime Administration director had paid bribes to know in advance about his looming arrest in May, head of the Criminal Police Department said.

Lieutenant General Phan Van Vinh, head of the Criminal Police Department under the Ministry of Public Security Photo: Tien Phong

Lieutenant General Phan Van Vinh made the statement at an online meeting held by the Cong An Nhan Dan newspaper last week, when he mentioned the escape of Duong Chi Dung before his arrest warrant was announced on May 18.

Dung, 55, a native of Hai Duong Province, has been charged with “intentionally acting against the State’s economic management regulations and causing serious consequences” for his wrongdoings committed during the time he was chairman of the infamous state giant Vietnam National Shipping Lines (Vinalines) from 2005 to early 2012.

If found guilty, Dung may be sentenced to life in prison. Dung has been wanted internationally since his disappearance.

In a different interview, Colonel Tran Duy Thanh, head of the Corruption Investigation Police Department, said, “There has not been information about Dung’s motive in his fleeing away. There has not been evidence that the arrest warrant was leaked to him, either. These issues will be clarified when Dung is arrested.”

As previously reported, the investigation into corruption at Vinalines was expanded on July 25 with the arrest of six more officials, who allegedly helped buy a faulty Russian floating dock that lost the state US$23 million.

All six face the same charge as that of Dung, who ordered the purchase of the used dock under a project that had not been approved by the Prime Minister.

More than ten other officials have been arrested already in the Vinalines scandal.

Source: Tuoi Tre News