Vietnam has indicted former police chief Do Huu Ca, who was a key figure in a violent forced eviction 12 years ago, on five different charges related to bribery, state media reported Tuesday.
The retired chief of police in the northeastern city of Hai Phong is among 10 others accused of “fraud to usurp assets, tax evasion, illegal purchase of invoices and State budget paying documents, taking bribes and giving bribes.”
Ca, 65, was arrested about a year ago on the fraud charge and is but one among many Vietnamese officials facing criminal charges amid a sweeping government anti-corruption campaign.
He is best known for his leading role in a 2012 forced eviction at a farm in the wetlands of Hai Phong's Tien Lang district that led to a shootout in which four policemen and two civilians were wounded. Six civilians were arrested and prosecuted for their involvement.
The eviction was later concluded by the Central Government to be illegal, and several local officials were prosecuted.
Ca was the Hai Phong City police chief from 2010 to 2013. He was a member of the Hai Phong City Standing Communist Party Board, the Hai Phong People’s Committee, the Hai Phong City People’s Council Session, and party chief and director of the Hai Phong City Police.
Translated by An Nguyen. Edited by Eugene Whong and Joshua Lipes.