Vietnam arrests deputy health minister in bribery probe
SCMP · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
Vietnamese police on Wednesday arrested Deputy Health Minister Tran Van Thuan over allegations that he accepted large bribes in a widening investigation tied to Viet My Medical Investment Joint Stock Company. Authorities said the case involves suspected smuggling, serious accounting violations and the inflation of prices for medical equipment and pharmaceuticals imported into Vietnam.
Key Points
- The public security ministry said Tran Van Thuan, 56, was detained on Wednesday for allegedly accepting bribes involving a large sum, without disclosing the amount.
- Thuan is a leading oncologist who became deputy health minister in 2020 and was appointed chairman of the National Medical Council in 2024.
- Police said the arrest is part of an investigation into Viet My Medical Investment Joint Stock Company over alleged smuggling and accounting violations causing serious consequences.
- State media said police had already arrested two company executives and an accountant linked to alleged resale, price inflation and imports from Singapore and Hong Kong.
- Authorities also accuse company leaders of trying to illegally import medical equipment into Vietnam as the anti-corruption campaign continues to widen.
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong readers, the case draws attention to official allegations that the company imported medical equipment and pharmaceuticals from Hong Kong into Vietnam, placing cross-border medical trade under sharper scrutiny. It also shows that Vietnam's anti-corruption drive is still reaching senior officials in sensitive sectors such as healthcare, where procurement and import channels can have regional implications.