The sentences handed down to the 29 defendants were announced by the Hanoi People's Court on 18/9.

Ha was found guilty of "abusing his position and power to influence others for personal gain". This initial sentence falls within the 5-6 year imprisonment term recommended by the procuracy in its closing argument on 10/9. Ha is the only one among the 29 defendants convicted of this crime.

Pham Thai Ha (standing) and other defendants at the first-instance trial. Photo: Danh Lam

Le O Pich, former vice chairman of the Bac Giang Provincial People's Committee, received a 3-year sentence (the procuracy proposed 3-4 years). He is also the only defendant prosecuted for "abuse of office while on official duty".

The court determined that Pich received 4 billion VND in "commissions" from Thuan An Group after creating unfair advantages for the company to win a bid for a project worth over 1,100 billion VND.

Defendant Le O Pich, former vice chairman of the Bac Giang Provincial People's Committee, on the afternoon of 18/9. Photo: Pham Du

The remaining 27 individuals were all convicted of "violating bidding regulations causing serious consequences". Nguyen Duy Hung, former chairman of Thuan An Group's Board of Directors, received the heaviest sentence of 10 years and 6 months (the procuracy proposed 10-11 years).

Hung was deemed to have played the most significant role, committing crimes "of a manipulative nature" that corrupted related officials. He "exploited close relationships" with some high-ranking state leaders, asking them to intervene, introduce, and influence localities and the Ministry of Transport. This helped Thuan An Group gain advantages in participating in bidding and construction. Hung directly met with authorized individuals to negotiate commission percentages, colluding and engaging in fraudulent activities in five projects, causing losses to state assets exceeding 120 billion VND, according to the verdict.

Nguyen Duy Hung, former chairman of Thuan An Group's Board of Directors, was escorted to the Hanoi People's Court on the afternoon of 18/9. Photo: Pham Du

Five former directors of management boards in four provinces and the Road Administration received sentences ranging from 4 to 6 years in prison. Nguyen Van Thao, former director of the Bac Giang Project Management Board, received a 6-year sentence, the second highest in the case. The amount Thao received from Thuan An was 11 billion VND, of which 3 billion was shared with former vice chairman Pich.

The project management board directors were accused of creating numerous special and illegal mechanisms for Thuan An Group, receiving commissions from the company after the project was awarded. Each former director received at least 5 billion VND, with the highest amount exceeding 9 billion VND.

The remaining defendants were considered to have played minor roles, committing less serious crimes under the direction of superiors. They received sentences ranging from 2 years of probation to 7 years in prison, with 7 individuals receiving probation.

Tran Viet Cuong, former director of the Tuyen Quang Project Management Board, was escorted to the trial. Photo: Pham Du

During the appellate trial, none of the defendants appealed their convictions. They all gave brief statements and admitted guilt. Former Thuan An chairman Hung confessed to exploiting relationships to "lobby for projects", while also urging employees to falsify documents, collude with investors, and find "dummy bidders". He directly instructed the division of commission rates and sent people or personally delivered bribes after each successful bid.

Hung and several subordinate defendants argued that some project estimates were too low, difficult to implement, and risky. However, due to requests and persuasion from localities, he still carried them out despite incurring losses.

Hung claimed that the "request-grant" mechanism was an objective reason that forced large and capable businesses like his to resort to wrongful methods, leading to legal consequences.

Meanwhile, the common argument of the officials who accepted bribes and illegally assisted the group was that they were "instructed and directed by provincial leaders" during breakfasts, lunches, and dinners at the leaders' homes. Therefore, they perceived this as a "central government business".

When wholeheartedly assisting, they also readily accepted heavy gift bags weighing several kilograms, but "didn't know it was money".

Dam Van Cuong, former deputy director of the Bac Giang Project Management Board. Photo: Pham Du

The individuals who delivered the bribes, Hung's subordinates at Thuan An, also "didn't know it was money". Their reasoning was sternly rebuked by the presiding judge, who stated that they had "done it too many times" and considered it normal.

Pham Thai Ha gave the shortest statement, only asking for understanding for the "unforeseeable risks" inherent in his profession as an aide to the former National Assembly chairman.

Defending Ha, the lawyers urged the jury to put themselves in the defendant's shoes for an objective view. The lawyer argued that their client's support for Thuan An Group was "wrong but not dangerous". Ha had fallen into a "cognitive blind spot" while trying to help a friend on an emotional level.

Hung's lawyer compared this case to the Phuc Son Group case, arguing that Phuc Son chairman Nguyen Van Hau caused greater damage but received a lighter sentence. This defense argument was strongly opposed by the procuracy, stating that the lawyer's comparison presented false information. The prosecutor affirmed that the state encourages the development of the private economy to ensure healthy and transparent business development, but "this does not mean condoning illegal acts".

The five projects involved in the defendants' violations in this case include: Dong Viet Bridge Project in Yen Dung district, Bac Giang province (former); Tuyen Quang - Phu Tho expressway project in Tuyen Quang province (former); Vinh Tuy 2 Bridge project in Hanoi; the renovation and upgrade of National Highway 14E in Quang Nam province under the Ministry of Transport, now the Ministry of Construction; and the riverside road connecting the Ha Long - Hai Phong expressway to Dong Trieu town - a key project of Quang Ninh province.

Several individuals and officials involved in and responsible for the violations, who did not appear and were not summoned to court, are having their cases separated by the investigating agency for further processing.

Pham Du - Thanh Lam