No bigger fish seen netted in Vietnam mafia probe
HANOI - Vietnam signalled on Tuesday that prosecutions in its largest ever criminal case, seen as a test of its resolve to wipe out graft, would reach no higher than three officials already named as suspects.
Observers have been speculating about how far the net might be cast in a country frequently rated by investors and donors as one of the world's most corrupt. The Quan Doi Nhan Dan (People's Army) published an interview with deputy national police chief Major General Nguyen Viet Thanh who said the underworld investigation had uncovered all the top officials involved. "I would like to affirm that apart from former deputy public security minister Bui Quoc Huy; former general director of Voice of Vietnam Radio... Tran Mai Hanh and Deputy Chief of Supreme People's Procuracy Pham Si Chien, no high-ranked officials are involved in the case," he was quoted as saying.
In July and August, the government removed the three from all party and government posts for their alleged connection with the mafia gang headed by Truong Van Cam, or Nam Cam, who has been in detention in southern Ho Chi Minh City since last December. Nam Cam has been accused of ordering the killing of a rival gang member, gambling, extortion and fraud. He is expected to stand trial in December. Hanh and Chien are accused of exposing secrets and taking bribes, respectively. Huy has been charged with "irresponsibility", official media report. Local media say as many as 156 defendants are expected to stand trial in the case.
Reuters - October 22, 2002
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