Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security has issued arrest warrants and search orders for four individuals, including Le Duc Giang, Vice Chairman of Thanh Hoa Provincial People’s Committee, as part of a criminal investigation into violations of natural resource management and serious financial misconduct.

On July 10, the Criminal Investigation Agency under the Ministry of Public Security confirmed it is investigating the case involving “violations of regulations on research, exploration, and exploitation of natural resources” and “violations of accounting regulations causing serious consequences.”

The violations were linked to Thien An Phat Minerals Joint Stock Company and other related entities.

As the investigation expanded, authorities uncovered that several leaders and officials from provincial regulatory agencies in Thanh Hoa had abused their positions for personal gain.

These individuals allegedly violated their official duties in the assessment, advisory, and decision-making processes regarding the issuance of mineral exploitation licenses to businesses, causing particularly severe damage to state assets and widespread public outrage among citizens and party members.

Based on the findings, on July 2, the Ministry of Public Security issued a supplemental decision to prosecute the case for “abuse of power or position in the performance of official duties,” as stipulated in Article 356 of the Penal Code.

The Ministry also issued arrest and detention orders and search warrants for the following individuals:

Le Duc Giang – Vice Chairman of the Thanh Hoa Provincial People’s Committee

Pham Van Hoanh – Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, Thanh Hoa

Nguyen The Hung – Head of the Department of Geology and Minerals (Department of Agriculture and Environment, Thanh Hoa)

Nguyen Van Tam – Specialist, Office of the Thanh Hoa People’s Committee

All four are being prosecuted for “abuse of power or position in the performance of official duties.”

The investigation team is currently working to strengthen evidence against the accused and is continuing to expand the probe to thoroughly uncover organized misconduct and the roles of other related individuals and entities.

Dinh Hieu