On 4/8, the Hue City People's Procuracy announced the indictment of Nguyen Quang Vinh Binh and his deputy, Vo Giang, on charges of negligence causing serious consequences, under Article 360 of the penal code.

Police search the fisheries office in 2024. Photo: Van An

Police search the fisheries office in 2024. Photo: Van An

The fisheries office is responsible for inspecting the technical safety of fishing vessels and issuing safety certificates and registration for vessels in the city. Binh and Giang are accused of negligence between 2019 and 2021 in inspecting and verifying documents for fishing vessel conversions in Hue City, leading to the issuance of improper technical safety certificates.

Previously, in 10/2024, Thua Thien Hue provincial police, now Hue City police, launched an investigation into bribery at the provincial fisheries office between 2019 and 2022. Four individuals were detained: Nguyen Van Bon, 48, vessel registration officer and head of the fishing vessel department; Tran Chuoi, 47, vessel registration officer; Ngo Van Tuan, 36, vessel registration officer; and Pham Ba Hieu, 69, former director of An Thuan Shipbuilding Company in Thuan An.

Authorities also issued a travel ban for Nguyen Hai Thuy, 45, vessel registration officer and head of the inspection and fishery control department.

Authorities allege that Bon and other registration officers at the provincial fisheries office colluded with companies issuing vessel engine inspection certificates and vessel conversion facilities, exploiting their positions during vessel registration. They allegedly accepted money from fishermen and falsified conversion documents to illegally increase engine power.

Vo Thanh