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On 11/7, after 18 days of trial and deliberation, the Hanoi People's Court sentenced 41 defendants in the case of bidding violations, bribery, and receiving bribes related to Phuc Son Corporation. Among them are 5 former provincial party secretaries and 25 former officials of Vinh Phuc, Phu Tho, Quang Ngai, and Vinh Long provinces.
Last week, on the morning of 4/7, the jury did not announce the verdict as expected but announced that they had received a receipt showing that Phuc Son Corporation had paid 768 billion VND in restitution for former chairman and defendant Nguyen Van Hau.
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Former Vinh Phuc Party Secretary Hoang Thi Thuy Lan. Photo: Pham Du |
Former Vinh Phuc Party Secretary Hoang Thi Thuy Lan. Photo: Pham Du
The procuracy then considered the circumstances to adjust the proposed sentence for Hau. However, combining the three crimes of bribery, accounting violations with serious consequences, and bidding violations with serious consequences, the proposed sentence remains unchanged: 30 years in prison (the maximum term of imprisonment).
The procuracy also reduced the proposed sentences for seven former leaders. However, this did not include former Vinh Phuc Provincial Party Secretary Hoang Thi Thuy Lan, former Vinh Phuc Standing Deputy Party Secretary Pham Hoang Anh, former Quang Ngai Provincial People's Committee Chairman Cao Khoa, former Quang Ngai Provincial Party Secretary Le Viet Chu, and former Quang Ngai Provincial People's Committee Chairman Dang Van Minh.
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Defendant Nguyen Van Hau (Hau "Phao"). Photo: Danh Lam |
Defendant Nguyen Van Hau (Hau "Phao"). Photo: Danh Lam
According to the accusations, the former provincial leaders were manipulated by Hau's business with money, creating interest groups. They committed crimes due to moral degradation and for personal gain.
Taking advantage of this, over 15 years from 2008 to 2023, during the implementation of 14 projects and bidding packages in Vinh Phuc, Quang Ngai, and Phu Tho, Phuc Son Corporation violated the law and profited enormously, reducing public trust and causing public outrage.
>>Sentences proposed by the procuracy for 41 defendants
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41 defendants at the trial. Photo: Danh Lam |
41 defendants at the trial. Photo: Danh Lam
Regarding civil matters, the procuracy proposed confiscating all bribes in the case, along with any proceeds from illicit benefits and money paid by related individuals, to the state treasury. Any defendant who has not yet paid is required to continue paying.
The procuracy proposed that Hau pay 1,164 billion VND in illicit profits to the state budget.
Hau's lawyer said his client has overpaid more than 60 billion VND as of today.
Thanh Lam
