On 17/4, Thai Nguyen Provincial Police announced that the Economic Police Department had indicted and temporarily detained Nguyen Van Thanh, 50, owner of the Nguyen Van Thanh food business in Vo Tranh commune, for investigation into the crime of giving bribes.
In connection with the same case, police also temporarily detained Nguyen Thi Tam, 45, former principal of Nam Hoa Kindergarten, and Tran Thi Hang, 44, an accountant, on charges of receiving bribes.
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Police read out the indictment orders to the defendants. *Photo: Provincial Police*
According to the police, the Nguyen Van Thanh business was issued a registration certificate with its main activity being the trade of fresh and cooked foods. From the 2022 to 2026 school years, this establishment signed contracts to supply food and meals to many schools in the former Dong Hy district.
Specifically at Nam Hoa Kindergarten, to secure the food and meal supply contract for the 2024-2025 school year, Thanh allegedly negotiated and agreed to pay a percentage. As a result, Tam and Hang received an amount equivalent to 6% of the total value of goods the school purchased monthly. These payments were made from October 2024 to March 2026.
Earlier, in mid-March, parents of students at Hoa Binh Kindergarten in Van Lang commune reported that pork used by the school showed signs of disease. The pork was supplied by the Nguyen Van Thanh business and tested positive for the African swine fever virus and E. coli bacteria.
Following the controversy, on 8/4, the Director of the Thai Nguyen Department of Health issued an administrative penalty decision against Thanh for food safety violations, totaling 22,5 million VND. The Department of Health determined that Thanh's business had incorrectly recorded entries in its three-step food inspection log and food sample retention log. Furthermore, it lacked water source test results for processing and business operations.
The establishment also failed to provide invoices or documentation related to the origin of food ingredients. Thanh had not designated separate areas for food processing and storage, and insects and pests were found to have infiltrated the premises.
Police are expanding the investigation into the case.
