HCMC – Dinh Minh Hiep, director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in HCMC, was detained today, August 2.
Hiep is accused of violating bidding regulations while leading the Agricultural High-Tech Park Management Board. He was head of the park management board before becoming director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in HCMC.
The Investigation Police Department for Corruption, Smuggling and Economic Crimes (C03) under the Ministry of Public Security charged Hiep under Article 222, Clause 3 of the Penal Code.
Nguyen Chi Than, director of Van Phat Company, was also charged under the same article but under house arrest.
Hiep’s arrest is part of a broader investigation into procurement violations at the Saigon Hi-Tech Park Research Laboratories. The authorities aim to recover state assets.
In September 2023, Tran Thi Binh Minh, former deputy director of the Department of Planning and Investment, and Phan Tat Thang, deputy head of the department’s Economic Division, were detained for abuse of power. Other officials and company directors have been implicated and face legal restrictions to prevent their escape.
