3 Vietnam Airlines managers charged with taking bribes linked to excess baggage charges

Three managers from Vietnam Airlines are facing charges in Singapore for allegedly accepting bribes linked to the collection of excess baggage fees. Two other individuals are also accused of conspiring to facilitate these bribes, according to a statement from the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB).

The charges detail a scheme spanning from November 2020 to April 2023. Truong Thi Nhung, a 49-year-old Vietnamese national, allegedly worked with Poh Boon Leong, a 51-year-old Singaporean, to bribe Vietnam Airlines staff to avoid paying excess baggage charges. During this period, Amir Khan Shoul Hamid, 42, a Singaporean national serving as acting or deputy station manager for Vietnam Airlines Company, allegedly accepted a total of S$41,700 (approximately US$32,345) from Truong and Poh.

Further allegations indicate that Truong also bribed Le Trac Tuan, a 48-year-old Vietnamese station manager, with S$6,500 between March and April 2023. These payments were reportedly a reward for not collecting owed excess baggage charges from Truong or her associates. Le Trac Tuan is also accused of subsequently bribing Lam Anh Viet, a 52-year-old Vietnamese general manager at Vietnam Airlines Joint Stock Company, with S$3,000 in March 2023. This alleged bribe was to prevent Lam from reporting Le's own receipt of bribes for failing to collect the excess baggage fees.

The CPIB stated that it investigates all corruption-related reports, including anonymous ones. The cases have been adjourned for further mention in August. Offenders convicted of accepting or giving bribes in Singapore face penalties of up to five years in jail, a fine of up to S$100,000, or both.