Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security announced the arrest of Mai Tien Dung, aged 65, the former head of the government office, on suspicion of abuse of power. The arrest, made on April 30, is part of an ongoing investigation into a bribery case in Lam Dong province, located in the Central Highlands. Dung, who served as head of the government office from 2016 to 2021 under former prime minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, could not be reached for comment on the accusations against him.
The anti-corruption campaign in Vietnam, known as the "blazing furnace," has been gaining momentum recently, targeting numerous senior officials and high-profile corporate figures. This crackdown has resulted in the prosecution or removal of many individuals from their positions of power. In a significant move, the National Assembly recently voted to remove its chairman, Vuong Dinh Hue, and had earlier removed the country's president, Vo Van Thuong, in March, both for unspecified violations and shortcomings.
Despite the high-profile nature of the arrests and removals, details about the specific allegations against the individuals are often not disclosed. Similarly, Mai Tien Dung's arrest was linked to a real estate project in Lam Dong province, but specifics about his alleged crimes were not provided in the recent announcement. The political landscape in Vietnam has witnessed shifts, with former prime minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc becoming president in April 2021, only to resign within less than two years due to reported "violations and wrongdoing" by officials under his command.