On 14/7, Ha was prosecuted by the supreme people's procuracy for abusing his position and power to influence others for personal gain. In the same case, Le O Pich, former vice chairman of the Bac Giang provincial people's committee, was prosecuted for abusing his position and power while performing official duties.

Among the remaining 27 people prosecuted for violating bidding regulations with serious consequences are Nguyen Duy Hung, former chairman of the board of directors of Thuan An Group; Tran Quang Anh, former general director of Thuan An; Nguyen Khac Man, former deputy general director of Thuan An; Nguyen Van Thao, former director of the Bac Giang project management board; Tran Viet Cuong, former director of the Tuyen Quang project management board; and several defendants from the Vietnam road administration and the ministry of transport.

=>> List of 29 prosecuted individuals

Pham Thai Ha during a working session at the national assembly office, October 2023. Photo: National Assembly Media

Pham Thai Ha during a working session at the national assembly office, October 2023. Photo: National Assembly Media

The prosecution alleges that due to a close relationship, Ha agreed to help and introduce Nguyen Duy Hung to be facilitated in participating in a project in Bac Giang. In late December 2021, during a meal with the Bac Giang provincial standing committee at the national assembly chairman's residence, Ha introduced Hung to the Bac Giang party secretary.

Ha's introduction and influence "facilitated Thuan An's winning of the bid," indirectly leading to collusion between individuals at the Bac Giang project management board, the design unit, and Thuan An, which helped them win bid package number 7.

After Thuan An won the bid, Hung went to Ha's house and gave him 500 million VND as a thank you. In addition, on holidays and Tet (Lunar New Year), Hung gave Ha an additional 250 million VND. Ha has voluntarily surrendered the entire amount of illicit gains.

The former chairman of Thuan An group caused more than 120 billion VND in damages.

According to the indictment, Hung took advantage of his close relationships with several individuals who are "high-ranking leaders in state agencies" during the bidding, award, and implementation of projects in Bac Giang, Tuyen Quang, Quang Ninh, Hanoi, and the ministry of transport.

Hung asked Ha to introduce him and intervene with provincial leaders and the ministry of transport to create favorable conditions for Thuan An Group to win bids and implement projects. After the "path was cleared," Hung directly met with and requested provincial party committee leaders, provincial people's committee leaders, and leaders of units under the ministry of transport to direct their subordinates to facilitate Thuan An's winning bids.

Chairman Nguyen Duy Hung (white shirt) and subordinate Tran Anh Quang at the investigative agency. Photo: Ministry of Public Security

Chairman Nguyen Duy Hung (white shirt) and subordinate Tran Anh Quang at the investigative agency. Photo: Ministry of Public Security

However, after winning the bids, Hung arranged for other companies to work with the project management board to form joint ventures, colluding and conspiring from the survey stage, preparing design documents, technical specifications, and cost estimates. This constitutes bid rigging to secure the contracts.

The former chairman of Thuan An is also accused by the procuracy of agreeing to pay a percentage of "facilitation" money to individuals responsible for directing and implementing the bid packages and projects. This allowed these individuals to direct their subordinates and coordinate with them to carry out acts that violated bidding regulations.

The violations of Hung and his accomplices caused more than 120 billion VND in damage to state assets. Moreover, Hung's actions led to many officials in the localities where the projects and bid packages were implemented being criminally prosecuted and disciplined, eroding public trust and causing public outrage.