Different former senior officers of the ministry’s mining division have been arrested on the identical costs, the ministry mentioned, with out giving additional particulars.
These arrested weren’t obtainable to remark and calls to the atmosphere ministry went unanswered.
Police final 12 months arrested a number of senior officers, together with the chairman from uncommon earth firm Thai Duong Group, which operates a mine within the northern Vietnamese province of Yen Bai, for allegedly forging worth added tax receipts in uncommon earths buying and selling.
The Ministry of Public Safety mentioned it was finishing up additional investigations to retrieve state property that had been misplaced.
Vietnam has the second-largest deposits of the crucial minerals – utilized in making electrical automobiles and wind generators – after China, in response to United States Geological Survey estimates.
The authorities have additionally intensified a clampdown on unlawful uncommon earth mining from uncared for or deserted pits in lately.
(By Phuong Nguyen; Modifying by Michael Perry)