Vietnam will issue an international wanted notice for Duong Chi Dung, former chairman of Vietnam National Shipping Lines (Vinalines), who fled before the investigative agency decided to arrest and prosecute him on May 17.

 Dung may face international wanted notice

Colonel Tran Duy Thanh, head of police unit tasked with fighting corruption (C48) said that the police had issued a detention notice of four months on May 17. The detention of Dung was to allow further investigation of possible crimes committed during the time he was chairman of Vinalines. However, after Dung went missing, they issued the wanted notice.

"If we can't find Dung the investigation will face some difficulties, but it won’t be impossible to solve with the use of other evidence," Thanh said.

Answering the question from the press about whether the impending detention of Dung had been leaked, Thanh said, "Everything will be cleared when Dung is found. In a situation were Dung has fled to another country, Vietnamese police will work with Interpol to issue an international wanted notice. Dung has admitted his guilt by running away."

Dung and former Vinalines' CEO Mai Van Phuc and Deputy CEO Tran Huu Chieu were accused of violating government directives, investment law, tendering law and economic management regulations in buying and repairing the obsolete No83M floating dock, which had been de-listed from active service by the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping.

Without asking the Ministry of Transport or agreement from Prime Minister, the dock was bought when Vinalines decided to build a ship repair yard in Ba Ria-Vung Tau despite the corporation not having received land for the project from the local authorities. Without land, Vinalines spent VND30 billion (USD1.4 million) repairing and guarding the dock as of April 2010. VND70 billion (USD3.4 million) was also spent to pay a bank loan on the purchase of the dock.

"After this case is concluded, the police will inspect the responsibilities of the various agencies involved. If any others wrongdoings are found, the police will extend the investigation."

Mai Van Phuc and Tran Huu Chieu were arrested on May 17.

Duong Chi Dung fled before his arrest notice was issued