Vietnam Sacks Dep Minister in Corruption Crackdown

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, November 18, 2002

Vietnam Sacks Dep Minister in Corruption Crackdown

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Vietnam has sacked a deputy minister of public security for alleged leniency towards the leader of a notorious crime gang, the latest move in a drive to crack down on corruption, local media reported on Saturday.

Prime Minister Phan Van Khai has made ending graft and crime a top priority and international donors are keen to see the country -- a huge aid recipient -- clean up corruption.

The Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper said Khai signed a decision on Friday to demote and strip Major General Hoang Ngoc Nhat of his post on allegations he freed the leader of the Nam Cam gang leader from detention ahead of time.

The organised crime ring, based in the southern commercial hub of Ho Chi Minh City, is led by Truong Van Cam, popularly known by his nickname of Nam Cam.

Nam Cam and his gang have been accused of a various crimes including the assassination of a rival gang member, gambling, extortion and fraud.

The newspaper said Nhat signed a decision in September 1997 to free Nam Cam from detention eight months ahead of schedule even though police had amassed evidence of his crimes.

The gang leader was eventually detained last December.

Other senior officials have already been punished in the same crackdown.

In July, the government sacked deputy public security minister Bui Quoc Huy and demoted him for links with the gang.

Along with Huy, former general director of Voice of Vietnam Tran Mai Hanh and Deputy Chief of Supreme People's Procuracy Pham Si Chien were stripped of government posts and expelled from the communist party in the summer.

The trio, the most senior government officials to have been disciplined so far, will go on trial next month in Ho Chi Minh City along with about 150 others including policemen, gang members and journalists.

Source: Agencies

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