Following two days of trial at the Hanoi People's Court, this morning, the indictment was announced by the Hanoi People's Procuracy for 23 defendants in a case involving bribery, accepting bribes, and bidding fraud.

Among the five individuals prosecuted for accepting bribes, former deputy minister Hoang Van Thang faces a recommended sentence of four to five years in prison. The highest recommended sentence, 16 years in prison, was for Tran Van Lang, former Director of Ban 2, who received 13.4 billion dong in bribes.

Former Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Hoang Van Thang. Photo: Danh Lam

Nguyen Van Dan, Director of Hoang Dan company, faces a recommended sentence of eight to nine years for violating bidding regulations, causing serious consequences; three to four years for violating bidding regulations, causing serious consequences; and two to three years for giving bribes. The combined recommended sentence for the three charges is 13-16 years.

The remaining defendants, prosecuted for either violating bidding regulations, causing serious consequences, or violating bidding regulations, causing serious consequences, face recommended sentences ranging from a 30-month suspended sentence to seven years in prison.

According to the Procuracy, corruption and economic crimes have caused particularly severe damage to State and public assets in recent years. The detection and handling of these cases have helped to curb violations and crimes, strengthening public trust. Many cases, complex and serious in nature, have resulted in the prosecution of high-ranking officials within State agencies.

In this specific case, several State officials colluded and conspired, facilitating illegal activities by businesses in bidding operations, leading to losses of State assets.

Most of the defendants who accepted bribes held positions of authority and high professional qualifications, yet acted for personal gain, violating the conduct expected of Party members.

The defendants' actions pose a danger to society, infringing upon the proper functioning of State agencies and eroding public trust. Therefore, strict and commensurate penalties are necessary.

A representative of the Hanoi People's Procuracy announces the indictment, morning of 1/4. Photo: Danh Lam

The Procuracy assessed that the case exemplifies how contractors colluded and conspired with investors, exchanging material benefits to secure winning bids, resulting in losses of State funds.

Fraudulent declarations of capacity and experience in bid documents caused total State losses exceeding 251 billion dong, with defendant Dan playing a leading role.

23 defendants are implicated in paving the way for Hoang Dan company to win five bid packages across four projects: Krong Pach Thuong lake in Dak Lak province; Ban Mong lake in Nghe An province; Ban Lai lake in Lang Son province; and Canh Tang lake in Hoa Binh province.

Director Dan also used two accounting systems to legalize expenditures, violating accounting regulations and causing nearly 100 billion dong in State asset losses.

During his testimony, former deputy minister Thang claimed he was close to businesses and met them at home, stating he did a good job and "accepted gifts from colleagues." Meanwhile, his subordinate, former deputy director Nguyen Hai Thanh, identified as a fugitive, sent a letter from Canada explaining he accepted bribes because he "was in great need of money."

Also in court, Director Dan listed a series of assets, including gold and land, currently seized, expressing his desire to sell them to quickly remedy the consequences.

The trial continues with the defense arguments from lawyers.

Thanh Lam