The former director of Vietnam’s Food Administration, Nguyen Thanh Phong, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after being convicted of accepting bribes. This ruling was handed down during a court hearing in Hanoi. Another former official, Tran Viet Nga, who also held the position of director, received a 15-year sentence. In total, the court sentenced 55 individuals, including 34 officials from the food agency, for their involvement in a widespread bribery scheme.
The court found that Nguyen Thanh Phong accepted nearly 95 billion Vietnamese Dong (approximately $3.6 million) in bribes, while Tran Viet Nga received over 12.7 billion VND (around $483,000). The defendants personally benefited from these illicit transactions, with Phong reportedly taking an estimated 43.9 billion VND (about $1.7 million) and Nga more than 8 billion VND (nearly $304,000).
Details of the Bribery Scheme
The investigation revealed a multi-year scheme involving the food safety department at the Ministry of Health and various businesses across provinces and cities in Vietnam. Local media reported that between 2018 and 2025, agency officials were offered money in exchange for expedited actions, such as the issuance of essential permits. These included product registration certificates, post-production evaluations, and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certificates.
Judges emphasized that the actions of the defendants severely compromised the functioning and reputation of governmental organizations. Their conduct undermined public trust in state agencies and posed a considerable risk to consumer health by allowing substandard food products to circulate in the market.
Other Sentences Handed Down
In addition to Phong and Nga, several other officials received significant sentences. Nguyen Hung Long, the former deputy director of the food safety department, was sentenced to 12 years. Do Huu Tuan received seven years in prison, while Le Hoang, the deputy director in the Disease Prevention Department, was given a five-year sentence.
Other defendants, including Dinh Quang Minh and Pham Van Hinh, received sentences ranging from four to nine years. Several individuals, such as Tran Thi Quynh Trang and Lai Thi Thu Anh, were sentenced to shorter prison terms, while others had their sentences suspended.
This case underscores the ongoing challenges within Vietnam’s food safety regulations and the need for stricter oversight to protect public health.
