Colonel Nguyen Chi Phuong, director of the Thanh Hoa City Police, has been suspended for allegedly taking a VND260 million bribe from a former police officer, according to Major General Luong Tam Quan, head of the office of the Ministry of Public Security.

Colonel Nguyen Chi Phuong, director of the Thanh Hoa City Police

At a press conference at the Ministry of Public Security on January 4, Quang said the ministry has assigned the Investigative Police Agency to launch a probe.

On January 3, the Thanh Hoa Police announced the suspension of Phuong.

Earlier, Phuong had been denounced for taking the bribe from Do Duc Hieu, an ex-police officer in the province, to help Hieu escape punishment from a theft he had committed.

However, after having transferred the money to Phuong, Hieu was still discharged from the public security sector and sentenced to nine months of non-custodial sanctions.

Later, Hieu repeatedly asked Phuong to return the money. On November 19, 2018, Phuong paid back only VND150 million. Hieu, however, refused to accept the money and denounced Phuong.

SGT