To secure lucrative business deals, Nguyen Van Hau, chairman of Phuc Son Group, allegedly paid over 100 billion VND (more than USD 4 million) in bribes. Today, he and five former provincial Party secretaries appeared in court.

On the morning of June 24, the Hanoi People's Court opened the first-instance trial for 41 defendants in the high-profile case involving charges of bribery, abuse of power, serious violations of bidding regulations, accounting malpractice, and influence peddling. The violations occurred at Phuc Son Group and related entities.

Judge Tran Nam Ha presided over the trial. Representing the Hanoi People’s Procuracy were senior prosecutors Dang Thi Hong Thuy and Nguyen Huy Khanh, and prosecutors Bui Thanh Hang, Nguyen Thi Minh Hien, and Dao Hoang Van.

The case centers around Phuc Son Group, led by Hau "Phao" (Hau the Cannon), and highlights a troubling collusion between contractors and investors. According to investigators, Hau and his associates secured inside information to rig bids in their favor, causing an estimated loss of over 1.168 trillion VND (approximately USD 45.5 million) to the state.

To win these lucrative contracts, Nguyen Van Hau allegedly paid massive bribes. He is accused of giving Hoang Thi Thuy Lan 25 billion VND and USD 1 million, and Nguyen Van Khuoc 3 billion VND along with USD 20,000.

He also allegedly gave Le Duy Thanh 20 billion VND and USD 1.3 million, and Pham Hoang Anh (former Deputy Secretary of Vinh Phuc Provincial Party Committee and former Director of the Department of Construction) 400 million VND and USD 20,000.

Other alleged recipients include Hoang Van Nghiem (former Deputy Director of the Department of Finance and Vice Chairman of Vinh Phuc’s Land Valuation Council) who received 1.45 billion VND, and Chu Quoc Hai (former Deputy Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment), who allegedly received 100 million VND and USD 20,000.

In Quang Ngai province, Hau is accused of giving 22.6 billion VND and USD 240,000 to Dang Van Minh (former Director of the Department of Transport), with Minh personally benefiting from 10.6 billion VND and USD 40,000. He also reportedly funneled 6 billion VND and USD 20,000 through Minh to Cao Khoa (former Chairman of the Quang Ngai People's Committee), and another 6 billion VND to Le Viet Chu (former Vice Chairman of the Quang Ngai People's Committee).

T. Nhung