On December 26, the People’s Procuracy of Thai Binh province issued an indictment against former member of Vietnam’s highest legislative body National Assembly (NA) Luu Binh Nhuong, who was also Deputy Head of the NA People’s Petition Committee at the time of his arrest. On November 14, 2023, he was arrested on charges of “extortion of property” under Article 170 of the Criminal Code.
According to initial information from Thai Binh provincial Police Department, the arrest of Nhuong is related to the case of Pham Minh Cuong, nicknamed Cuong “quat,” a person with a criminal record, accused of forcing sand mining businesses in Thai Binh to pay protection money.
According to the indictment, from October 2021 to July 2022, Cuong “quat”‘s group extorted a total of VND1.6 billion ($60,000) from Sao Do Sand Mining Company, with the help of Nhuong. However, until his arrest, Nhuong had not received any money.
In addition, Nhuong was also prosecuted for the crime of “taking advantage of his position and power to influence others for personal gain.” Accordingly, he was accused of taking advantage of his position as a member of the NA to write a petition for the business to the Prime Minister, for which he got $300,000.
The arrest of legislator Nhuong at the end of 2023 caused much controversy and suspicion in public opinion. Before his arrest, Nhuong was known to the public for his statements that were not afraid to offend in the NA, especially towards the police force.
On social media, most opinions say that, in his role as a national legislator who is considered “of the people” with a straightforward style, daring to speak out, often criticizing the wrongdoings of the police force, he may have become the target of political retaliation from the Ministry of Public Security.
Legislator Nhuong, who once created heat in the NA of the 14th tenure, because of his debate with the Director of Nghe An province’s Police Department Major General Nguyen Huu Cau about the responsibility of the Ministry of Public Security.
Notably, before being prosecuted and detained, Nhuong, in his position as Deputy Head of the People’s Petition Committee, spoke out about the case of death row inmate Nguyen Van Chuong. He said that this sentence showed signs of injustice, and at the same time called for the need to review the sentence.
In this effort, on August 5, 2023, Nhuong directly sent a message to State President Vo Van Thuong requesting a temporary suspension of the execution of the sentence to review the case. The above-mentioned act is considered a serious act, related to the political career of Chief Justice Nguyen Hoa Binh – a close ally of then Minister of Public Security To Lam.
According to the indictment of the Procuracy, Nhuong was accused of instructing a business to submit an Urgent Appeal to the Prime Minister to resolve the difficulties in approving the Que Vo 3 Project in Bac Ninh province.
After receiving the petition, Nhuong, in his capacity as a national legislator, wrote a transfer form to the Prime Minister for consideration and resolution. According to the indictment, Nhuong then received $300,000 for this help.
In recent times, many Vietnamese officials have been discovered to have taken advantage of their positions and powers for personal gain, leading to serious corruption cases.
The case of former legislator Nhuong, being prosecuted for the crime of “taking advantage of his position and power to influence others for personal gain” is also the result of a seriously corrupt state apparatus.
Meanwhile, with a state salary that is only enough to drink coffee, most civil servants have a lavish life, with big houses, luxury cars and children studying abroad in capitalist countries. Through that, it can be seen that Nhuong is also just a victim of a corrupt state.
Tra My – Thoibao.de
