~ Le Viêt Nam, aujourd'hui. ~
The Vietnam News

[Year 1997]
[Year 1998]
[Year 1999]
[Year 2000]
[Year 2001]

Vietnam communist party official arrested for spying

HANOI - Vietnamese police have arrested a Communist Party official for spying, official media reported Friday. Tien Phong (Vanguard) newspaper said Pham Van Dung, 41, vice chairman of the People's Committee of Hoang Van Thu precinct in Hanoi, was arrested Feb. 1 in a northern province on charges of spying. The report hinted that Dung was working as a spy for China.

"Pham Van Dung's spying for foreigners, which violates national security, is being investigated by security police and he will be dealt with in accordance with the law," the paper said. An official from Dung's office confirmed that Dung was arrested for espionage but declined to say whom he was spying for and where he was arrested. The official said police had searched his office a day after his arrest.

The paper said Dung had worked in the border guard forces before joining the local people's committee in 1995. The security police bureau Friday declined to comment on Dung's arrest. Espionage is a death penalty offense in Vietnam.

The Associated Press - February 23, 2001.