Ho Chi Minh City directors prosecuted for environmental data falsification

A number of directors and deputy directors from environmental monitoring and analysis firms in Ho Chi Minh City face prosecution for allegedly manipulating data to meet regulatory standards.

On October 10, Ho Chi Minh City Police announced they have initiated legal proceedings in 5 cases and detained 21 suspects. These individuals are under investigation for falsification in official duties and illegal invoice trading. The suspects include directors, deputy directors, department heads, and staff from environmental monitoring and analysis units, as well as representatives from several related businesses.

The suspects at the investigating agency. Photo: Ho Chi Minh City Police

According to the investigating agency, the suspects exploited their positions and authority during management, analysis, and inspection processes to alter environmental parameters. They allegedly changed data that exceeded regulatory standards to appear as meeting those standards, or reported results lower than actual findings.

Police searched QCVN Vietnam Standard Technical Joint Stock Company on 24/9. Photo: Pham Hai

Those involved are accused of colluding and meticulously assigning tasks during the execution of their illicit activities. Upon detection, some attempted to destroy or alter electronic documents, evidence, and data to conceal their violations.

Previously, on September 24, following directives from Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Long, Deputy Minister and Head of the Investigation Police Agency, Ministry of Public Security, over 250 officers and soldiers from Ho Chi Minh City Police, in coordination with specialized units of the Ministry of Public Security, simultaneously searched 6 locations belonging to 5 companies operating in environmental monitoring and analysis.

The units subjected to searches included: Dai Phu Construction and Environment Joint Stock Company, QCVN Vietnam Standard Technical Joint Stock Company, Center for Environmental Technology (CEFINEA), Southern Environmental Analysis and Measurement Center, and Navitek Food and Environment Testing Joint Stock Company.

One hundred fifty-eight individuals were summoned for questioning as part of the investigation.

The investigating agency reads a search warrant at an environmental monitoring and analysis unit in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Ho Chi Minh City Police

The investigation determined that violations occurred at multiple stages of the environmental analysis, monitoring, and results issuance processes. Additionally, some business leaders in other sectors are accused of engaging in illegal invoice trading to legitimize various expenses.

According to Ho Chi Minh City Police, falsifying monitoring results risks concealing environmental pollution, hindering effective management, and adversely affecting community rights.

The case remains under expanded investigation.