The Ca Mau People's Procuracy has issued an indictment, prosecuting Pham Quoc Nam, former director of the Bac Lieu provincial department of natural resources and environment, and Bui Thi Kim Em, former chief accountant of the department, for violating bidding regulations, causing serious consequences.

Nguyen Thi Thanh Nhan, chairwoman and general director of International Advanced Joint Stock Company (AIC); Tran Manh Ha, former deputy general director of AIC; Le Thi Linh Nhung, former AIC employee in TP HCM; Ho Tan Manh; and Nguyen Minh Tam, former general and deputy general directors of Dong Nam A Valuation Company, are accused as accomplices.

Automatic surface water monitoring station in Nha Mat ward, former Bac Lieu city. Photo: Minh Phong

Automatic surface water monitoring station in Nha Mat ward, former Bac Lieu city. Photo: Minh Phong

Department director facilitated from project preparation phase

According to the indictment, Pham Quoc Nam, acting as the investor's representative, abused his position and authority. He directed subordinates to facilitate AIC's participation and dominance in a project to build three automatic surface water monitoring stations. This project, with a total investment exceeding 50 billion dong, began in 2017.

Before bidding documents were even issued, Nam permitted AIC employees to access the project. They worked directly at the department of natural resources and environment, surveying construction sites and "advising" on equipment lists. Based on this, AIC supplied a list of equipment, including specific configurations and technical parameters, which the department incorporated into the project documents from the start, effectively excluding other contractors.

Prosecutors allege that Nam instructed chief accountant Kim Em to collaborate with AIC employees. They received documents via email, printed them, and submitted them for signature to legalize the process.

To inflate equipment prices, AIC provided three quotations from companies within its own ecosystem. These served as the basis for the feasibility study report and valuation. Nam approved this document, despite knowing it did not reflect market prices.

Dong Nam A Valuation Company, the designated valuation unit, also failed to conduct actual surveys. Instead, it relied solely on quotations provided by AIC to issue valuation certificates, thereby "legalizing" the pre-arranged equipment prices.

Nguyen Thi Thanh Nhan. Photo: AIC

Nguyen Thi Thanh Nhan. Photo: AIC

Rigging contractor selection results

With the "steered" documents, AIC secured the equipment supply and installation package, valued at over 39 billion dong. A later valuation, however, determined the actual worth of the package was just over 35 billion dong.

The collusion between Nam and Nhan caused losses exceeding 4,4 billion dong to the state.

Nhan and Ha have absconded and are now subjects of international arrest warrants. Nam is currently detained in connection with a separate case involving violations related to compensation and resettlement.

During the investigation, suspect Bui Thi Kim Em voluntarily returned 205 million dong. Luu Thi Thuy Trang, an accountant, also returned 50 million dong, which she had received from AIC employees during Tet holidays.

This marks the 7th case in which Nguyen Thi Thanh Nhan has been identified as the mastermind. In recent years, local courts have consistently found her to be the instigator and director of bid rigging and inflated equipment prices, causing severe damage to the state budget. The cumulative sentences from these judgments total 30 years in prison for Nhan, representing the maximum fixed-term prison sentence.

An Minh