On 21/7, eight individuals were charged with making false documents of an agency or organization, under Article 341 of the Penal Code. The procedural decisions were approved by the Ha Tinh Provincial People's Procuracy.
This development is part of an ongoing investigation into a scheme to forge thousands of construction material test reports. The fraudulent activities occurred at LAS-XD 909 Construction Specialized Laboratory, a division of Hathaco Joint Stock Company, in Ha Tinh province.
Investigators determined that despite knowing many construction items had not undergone required material testing, the defendants signed off on, accepted, or fabricated sample collection records and test results. These actions served to legitimize quality management, acceptance, and project completion documents, facilitating payments. In some instances, individuals actively sought out fake test reports, incorporating them into project files or using unauthorized signatures and seals to complete documentation.
According to case files, the fraudulent operation began in 2020 when Le Dang Lieu, director of Hathaco, Le Van Hung, head of LAS-XD 909 laboratory, and technician Bui Dinh Dung acquired the company. Their purpose was to secure contracts for construction material testing. The group is accused of conspiring to issue fabricated "construction project test results" based solely on technical specifications provided by contractors, without conducting any actual sampling or testing.
To maintain the scheme, the group enforced an "underground rule" requiring clients to leave 30% of the testing package value before the company would issue an invoice. Hathaco's accountant was responsible for applying the company's seal and the laboratory's seal to complete these falsified documents.
Nguyen Duy Manh, a construction material testing practitioner, acted as an intermediary. He collected requirements from contractors and forwarded technical information to Bui Dinh Dung. Dung then used personal computer software, specifically Excel, to generate fictitious test data. He manipulated values to create seemingly plausible results and linked this data in technical chains. He also fabricated initial material input results, which were then used as the basis for subsequent acceptance calculations.
The illicit activities were uncovered across 5 construction projects within Ha Tinh province, involving a total of nearly one thousand forged construction material test reports.
To date, authorities have charged 23 individuals in connection with the case. The investigation is continuing to clarify the responsibilities of all involved parties and assess the full extent of the damages.
Duc Hung
