Vietnam PM replaces customs chief
HANOI - Vietnam Prime Minister Phan Van
Khai has replaced the director of the General Customs
Department with a local Communist Party boss, official media
reported on Thursday.
The Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper said Phan Van Dinh had been
replaced by Nguyen Duc Kien, who was secretary of the ruling
Communist Party's cell in northern Hai Duong province. This
followed a formal directive from Khai that was signed on
Tuesday.
The newspaper gave no reason for Dinh's removal, but his
department has come under heavy criticism recently over
high-profile smuggling cases involving senior customs officials.
Government officials were not available to comment and it was
unclear if Dinh had actually been sacked.
Along with corruption and embezzlement, smuggling has
become a major problem in Vietnam in recent years. Foreign
investors also routinely complain about graft among customs
officials.
Reuters - October 14, 1999.
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