Tighter penalties sought for wholesalers caught selling sub-standard gasoline

Vietnam’s Deputy Chairman of the People’s Committee, Le Manh Ha, asked the Department of Science and Technology to punish 11 fuel wholesalers caught selling sub-standard gasoline and suspend their licenses for 12 months. Department officials agreed that the fine of VND20 million (US$960) to VND50 million (US$2,400) prescribed under Decree No. 71 was not enough, considering the huge profits the wholesalers made and that stiffer penalties should be given to the wholesalers. (December 16, 2011)