On 9/4, Dang Thanh Tung; Nguyen Vu Diem, former vice chairman; Bui Thanh Nha, former head of the urban construction order management team for Hoang Mai district; Le Thanh Thuy, former deputy head; and two former specialists, Tran Van Quan and Vu Cat Su, were tried by the Hanoi People's Court on charges of receiving bribes.

From right to left: defendants Quan, Diem, Tung at court on the morning of 9/4. Photo: Danh Lam

The six former officials are accused of abusing their positions from 8/2024 to 3/2025 to receive bribes from six households. These payments ensured that illegal or unlicensed construction projects in Thanh Tri ward, Hoang Mai district, Hanoi (now Thanh Tri ward) were not processed.

The total amount of bribes received was 920 million VND, distributed as follows: Tung 25-30%; Diem 15-20%; Nha 20%; Thuy, Su, and Quan each 10%.

Regarding the six homeowners involved in construction violations, the investigating agency stated that they proactively reported the crimes, filed complaints, acknowledged their violations, and voluntarily dismantled the unlicensed structures. Consequently, they were not criminally prosecuted for giving bribes.

However, at today's trial, after questioning, the trial panel returned the case file for additional investigation to clarify the actions of the project owners, as there were suspected signs of giving bribes and bribe brokerage.

Received 320 million VND to allow construction of a five-story house

According to the prosecutor's indictment, in the first incident, which occurred in 8/2024, Ms. Chung, owner of a three-story house with a mezzanine on Thanh Dam street, visited the Thanh Tri ward office to meet Chairman Tung and Vice Chairman Diem. She requested permission to build up to five stories. Defendant Diem "quoted" her 100 million VND, which she immediately transferred to the vice chairman in his office, and then gave an additional 20 million VND a few days later.

In 12/2024, following an inspection, her house and two adjacent households were still found by the ward to be in violation of construction regulations, and they were ordered to cease construction. Ms. Chung advanced 100 million VND and invited her two neighbors to the ward office to give additional cash to Vice Chairman Diem.

In 1/2025, Ms. Chung visited Nha's home, who was then the head of the urban construction order management team for Hoang Mai district, to give him 100 million VND.

Police working at the illegally overbuilt house. Photo: Ngoc Bich

Additionally, in five other incidents during the same period, the total amount of bribes received was 600 million VND. These payments were made with the expectation of adding one or two more stories, undertaking renovations without permits, extending balconies, or constructing technical mezzanines for staircases and elevators.

The homeowners proactively met with Chairman Tung, Vice Chairman Diem, or specialist Quan to "resolve" issues, or they approached them after construction was completed and violations were discovered.

The amounts were proposed and guided by these former officials. The bribe money was "collected" in specialist Quan's office cabinet; some had been divided, while some remained undistributed.

When arrested in 3/2025, 490 million VND, all originating from the aforementioned sources, was found in Quan's cabinet.

Former ward chairman Dang Thanh Tung admitted to instructing Quan to "create favorable conditions" for residents to build in exchange for "thank you money." Tung tasked Quan with managing this money and distributing it to involved individuals.

Before the trial, the defendants' families repaid over 1,2 billion VND.

Thanh Lam