Major General Pham Xuan Quac

Major General Pham Xuan Quac, 62, former Head of the Police Agency for Social Order Criminal Investigation, was prosecuted this morning, May 13, on charges of “Abuse of power in service”.

 

According to an announcement by the Ministry of Public Security, during the investigation process of PMU18 cases, some newspapers reported PMU18-related news, including some incorrect information, information that was under investigation and information that was not in the case file.

 

On March 22, 2007, Investigation Police Agency prosecuted some individuals for “Abuse of freedom and democratic rights harming state interest, legal rights and interests of organisations and citizens” and “Intentionally disclosing state secrets” under Article 258 and 263 of the Penal Code.

 

Police determined that some investigators and journalists provided wrong or secret information. Therefore, the Police Investigation Agency prosecuted Major-general Pham Xuan Quac and Senior Lieutenant-colonel Dinh Van Huynh for “Abuse of power in service”. Huynh was arrested on May 12.

 

In this case, two journalists, Nguyen Van Hai of Tuoi Tre Newspaper and Nguyen Viet Chien of Thanh Nien Newspaper, were also prosecuted and arrested on the same charge.

 

General Quac is the former head of the PMU18 investigating team. He retired in December 2006 under a Prime Minister decision.

 

Major-general Nguyen Thanh Hoa, the spokesman of the Ministry of Public Security, said the investigation agency has sufficient evidence that incorrect information about the PMU18 case came from some investigators and journalists. However, he didn’t provide any information about the grounds for arresting the two journalists on May 12.

 

Former General Director of PMU18 Bui Tien Dung was arrested on January 2006 for gambling. Since then many violations at PMU18 have been uncovered.

 

There are three cases related to PMU18: the VND13 billion ($812,000) gambling case related to Bui Tien Dung (judged already); intentionally violating state regulations on economic management causing serious consequences at PMU18 (to go to trial soon) and corruption related to PMU18’s Bai Chay bridge project (under investigation).

 

The first case has been tried already. In the second case, nine people are being prosecuted. The People’s Supreme Procuracy dropped charges against three defendants, including former Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Viet Tien for “Intentionally violating state regulations on economic management, causing serious consequences” and “Abuse of power in service” and cleared him of criminal responsibility for “Irresponsibility causing serious consequences”.

 

(Source: VNE, Tien Phong, Tuoi Tre)

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