US embassy cable - 04HANOI1196

UNCLAS HANOI 001196 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, ECON, VM 
SUBJECT:  Ag Minister in disgrace; MPT Minister next? 
 
Ref:  A.  Hanoi 956   B.  03 Hanoi 3156 
 
1.  (U)  The April 27 "Nhan Dan" carried a small article on 
its back page reporting on Decision No. 398/2004/QD-TTg to 
"discipline" Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development 
Le Huy Ngo, which was apparently signed by Prime Minister 
Phan Van Khai on April 22.  Ngo was specifically censured 
for "lacking responsibility" in the case of a MARD 
subsidiary whose officers -- notably La Thi Kim Oanh -- 
skimmed off millions of US dollars worth of MARD-backed bank 
loans (ref b).  Two MARD Vice Ministers were also convicted 
in the case but had their sentences suspended at the appeal 
trial, at which Ngo appeared as a character witness on their 
behalf (ref a). 
 
2.  (U)  Ngo reportedly submitted a letter of resignation on 
April 23, a step that had long been predicted.  Conventional 
wisdom in Hanoi is that Ngo, who is also a member of the 
CPV's Central Committee, will not face any criminal charges, 
however.  His likely successor is Cao Duc Phat, former MARD 
Vice Minister and briefly Deputy People's Committee 
Chairperson in An Giang province. 
 
3.  (U)  Press reports have also indicated that Minister of 
Post and Telematics Do Trung Ta (another CPV Central 
Committee member) is now under investigation, along with his 
son, on charges of corruption and/or embezzlement.  Police 
were reportedly seen raiding Ta's office at the Ministry 
during the week of April 19 to collect his files and 
personal papers. 
 
4.  (U)  Comment:  The CPV and GVN are well aware of the 
dangers of corruption to their legitimacy and authority, but 
have pursued few high level perpetrators.  Willingness to 
act upon and to publicize cases involving members of the 
Cabinet and Central Committee are welcome, but will likely 
not alter public perceptions that high fliers receive 
lenient treatment. 
BURGHARDT