Quang Ninh police have arrested three port officers for allegedly demanding unauthorized charges from the captains of ships entering and leaving local ports.
Nguyen Van Hanh, head of the representative office of Inland Waterway Port Authority Zone No.1 in Cam Pha Town, his deputy Ta Ngoc Hoan, and another staff member, Nguyen Hong Diep, will be detained for four months as investigations continue into their alleged “abuse of power,” police said.
On May 28, police caught Diep forcing boat owner Bui Van Vinh to pay VND2 million (US$120) in illegal fees as his vessel left the port.
Initial investigations showed Hanh had asked seven port staff to collect unofficial fees from transport vessels.
Vessels that refused to pay fees were not allowed to enter or leave the ports controlled by Inland Waterway Port Authority Zone No.1.
The group are estimated to have collected more than VND100 million (US$6,000) a month.
Police said the three port employees admitted their wrongdoings during interrogation.
They also said Hanh was in charge of monitoring the extra fees, with Diep responsible for distributing the money to two office leaders and seven port staff.
Nguyen Van Hanh, head of the representative office of Inland Waterway Port Authority Zone No.1 in Cam Pha Town, his deputy Ta Ngoc Hoan, and another staff member, Nguyen Hong Diep, will be detained for four months as investigations continue into their alleged “abuse of power,” police said.
On May 28, police caught Diep forcing boat owner Bui Van Vinh to pay VND2 million (US$120) in illegal fees as his vessel left the port.
Initial investigations showed Hanh had asked seven port staff to collect unofficial fees from transport vessels.
Vessels that refused to pay fees were not allowed to enter or leave the ports controlled by Inland Waterway Port Authority Zone No.1.
The group are estimated to have collected more than VND100 million (US$6,000) a month.
Police said the three port employees admitted their wrongdoings during interrogation.
They also said Hanh was in charge of monitoring the extra fees, with Diep responsible for distributing the money to two office leaders and seven port staff.