Fourteen people have been prosecuted in Vietnam in a bribery case involving the country's food safety agency.
The Ministry of Public Security's office is investigating cases of bribery at the Ministry of Health's Food Safety Department, as well as at companies in Hanoi and other cities across the country.
Authorities said the action was taken as part of an extensive investigation based on documents and evidence collected.
The order includes the temporary detention of Do Huu Thuan, former deputy director of the Food Safety Department; Le Manh Hung, Head of Food Management Department; and Wu Hai Long, a specialist in the Food Management Department.
Another five are prohibited from leaving their place of residence. They include Nguyen Thi Thu Quynh from the Department of Food Poisoning Monitoring, Information and Communication; Nguyen Thi Yen, Deputy Head of Food Safety Department; Pham Hoang Giang and Tran Thi Hong Nhung from the Department of Food Management; and Tran Thi Tuyet from the Standards and Testing Department.
Investigation ongoing
Earlier this year, authorities revealed former director of the Vietnam Food Administration was one of several people charged as part of the corruption investigation.
Nguyen Thanh Phong was among the 18 accused. The case concerns the approval of registration of food additives and functional foods.
In August, several orders were issued, including searches of 15 locations, including places of residence and places of work.
Enforcement actions included the temporary detention of Tran Viet Nghi, Director of the Department of Food Safety; Tran Thi Thu Lieu, Deputy Head of the Department of Food Poisoning Surveillance, Information and Communication; and Nguyen Thi Hai Ha from the Department of Standards and Testing.
Phung Thi Thuy Ha, from the Department of Food Poisoning Monitoring, Information and Communications; Nguyen Thi Viet Ha from the Department of Food Management; and Tran Thi Luu from the Food Commodity Management Department were not allowed to leave their home due to suspicion of accepting a bribe.
The same punishment was imposed on Dau Thi Giang and Nguyen Thanh Uyen, accused of giving a bribe. Quach Thi Tra My and Tran Thi Quynh Trang face similar charges.
