Several traffic police officials in the southern Vietnamese province of Dong Nai have been accused of receiving monthly ‘protection money’ from local truck operators in return for a guarantee that they would not be fined for any traffic violations.
The provincial Department of Police confirmed that it had received that denunciation from two officers under the province’s traffic police division.
Colonel Van Quyet Thang, deputy director of the police department, asserted that an investigation will be launched on Monday and stern punishments will be imposed upon those responsible.
Two officers submitted the accusation about one month ago, stating that several traffic police officials had been pocketing ‘protection money’ from local truck operators.
In return, the officials would direct their subordinates to refrain from fining these trucks when they broke traffic regulations.
In one of the clips, some traffic policemen appeared to have pulled over a truck that exceeded weigh limits along National Highway 20.
While they were dealing with the violation, they received a phone call from the team leader and were asked to let the truck go without booking the case.
The officers were heard talking to one another, saying that the operator of the truck had already paid money to their superior.
In another footage, a truck driver was found having an expired license.
However, he claimed that his operator had already given money to the traffic police unit and was eventually able to continue his journey without being fined.
The accusers, who asked to remain anonymous, said they would be kicked out of the team and transferred to another unit if they voiced their opposition to the corruption.
“This situation has been going on for quite a while,” they added.
Source: Tuoitre