If communist China is a friend Vietnam doesn’t need enemies.

The Police Investigation Agency (C03) of Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security has initiated an investigation into Le Thanh Hai, a former member of the Politburo and Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, and he has been placed in detention at Ngoc Xa temporary detention camp in Bac Ninh province, under the supervision of Director of C03 Major General Nguyen Ngoc Lam.

Le Thanh Hai faces charges related to money laundering and illicitly transferring funds abroad, resulting in a state budget loss of $50 billion. Additionally, he is accused of collaborating with Chinese operatives over a 15-year period to undermine the Vietnamese economy in Ho Chi Minh City.

These actions follow the issuance of investigative decision No. N011/C03 on May 23, 2024, and temporary detention order No. 852/C03 on the same date by the C03 authorities.

Subsequent to these decisions, Le Minh Hung, Head of the Central Committee’s Commission for Organization, has issued a decision (No. 932-QDNS/TW) suspending Le Thanh Hai from Party activities, jointly decided upon by the Central Police Party Committee and the Central Committee’s Commission for Inspection.

Furthermore, Truong Thi Hien, Le Thanh Hai’s wife, has also been temporarily detained under suspicion of involvement in money laundering.