Corruption crackdown creates traffic jam at Vietnam Register*

Registering your vehicle in Vietnam has entered the slow lane due to a crackdown on corruption.

In January, Vietnam Register Director Dang Viet Ha and former director Tran Ky Hinh were both arrested on charges of accepting bribes.

The investigation has expanded over the past three months, with  employees across the country being investigated, prosecuted and fired in connection with allegations they also took bribes and forged documents to pass unroadworthy vehicles.

Now the registry is even having to use 12 staff who are being probed for wrongdoing to reopen two centers in Hanoi.

Investigating agencies in 23 provinces and cities have searched more than 50 registration centers and probed about 300 employees, who face charges related to "bribery," ”receiving bribes,” “brokering bribes,” and “forgery at work,” according to  the Ministry of Public Security.

On Monday, state media reported that Vietnam Register is supposed to employ 2,014 registrars nationally , including 1,061 high-level motor vehicle registrars. However, the number of registrars still working has dropped to around 1,500 people.

To keep the motor vehicle inspection system running, at least 1,986 registrars are needed, so the system is 486 people short.

The Phapluat online news site cited a Vietnam Register report that said 121 of the 489 inspection lines in the country have been forced to suspend operations because they are being investigated by the police, unable to operate or have decided to close.

Nguyen To An, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Register, told the media many registrars did not dare to go to work, or claimed they were ill due to the pressure of the national investigation.

He said the use of employees under investigation is legal because they have not been convicted, and asked that they be treated normally but with some restrictions.

Translated by RFA Vietnamese. Edited by Mike Firn.

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