Vietnamese Former Environment Deputy Minister Arrested Amid Mining Regulations Scandal

Vietnamese police have detained Nguyen Linh Ngoc, a former deputy minister of Natural Resources and Environment, and four other officials. They are accused of violating mining regulations. The arrests are part of a broader investigation into misconduct at a rare earth company. Authorities are working to recover lost state assets.

Police in Vietnam have arrested former environment deputy minister Nguyen Linh Ngoc and four other senior officials for alleged violations of mining regulations. This follows a broader investigation into misconduct at a rare earth company in northern Vietnam, where Ngoc served as deputy minister of Natural Resources and Environment from 2010 to 2018.

The Ministry of Public Security stated that these violations pertain to state economic management regulations, causing severe repercussions. Additional senior officials from the ministry's mining department have also been detained on similar charges. Neither the arrested individuals nor the environment ministry have provided comments.

Last year, several senior officials, including the chairman of Thai Duong Group, were arrested for allegedly forging VAT receipts related to rare earth trading. Authorities are continuing investigations to reclaim lost state assets. Vietnam, with the world's second-largest deposits of rare earth minerals, has ramped up efforts to combat illegal mining activities recently.

(With inputs from agencies.)