VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnamese Foreign Ministry on Wednesday said Vu Moc Anh, a Vietnamese diplomat in South Africa, was called back because of allegations that she was caught red-handed on film in an illegal rhinoceros horn transaction.

Moc Anh and the rhino horn smuggler in the clip (photo: Mail&Guardian)

Two months ago, an investigation program from SABC, 50/50, captured Moc Anh talking to a known agent of a rhino horn smuggling syndicate, who then handed her a horn. Smiling, she then headed into the embassy.

The Vietnamese Embassy in South Africa confirmed that it was Moc Anh, the first secretary of the embassy, in that clip.

The embassy held a special meeting regarding this case. In that meeting, Moc Anh did not admit her violation.

Earlier this year, a Vietnamese, who was arrested at a casino in the Northern Cape, used the care of counselor Pham Cong Dung as there were 18kg of rhino horns in their car at the time.

Two years ago, Commercial Attache Khanh Toan, at the Vietnamese Embassy in South Africa, was detected to have connections to rhino horn smuggling and he was punished.

The Foreign Ministry said Vietnam joined the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Vietnam’s policy is pro-protecting and developing wild animals and banning wildlife trafficking.

Vietnam will strictly punish any violation related to wildlife trafficking under Vietnamese laws and appropriate to international laws.

(Source: Tuoi Tre, VietNamNet)