On the morning of 25/6, the second day of proceedings, the Hanoi People's Court began questioning the defendants in the group of former Vinh Phuc provincial officials.

The first to testify, former provincial party secretary Hoang Thi Thuy Lan, a thin woman in a white shirt, stood with her hands clasped before the stand. She stated she had heard Hau's testimony from the previous day and confirmed he had met with her several times to "request projects."

She said she had known Hau since around 2007 through "some colleagues in various departments and sectors" while she was chairwoman of the Vinh Phuc provincial labor federation. She considered Hau's Phuc Son Group to be a capable enterprise and "local," so she maintained contact. Around 2017, just after the provincial party congress, Hau met with her to request projects, and she was "very excited."

Regarding the instances of receiving money, Lan confirmed receiving money only three times, totaling 25 billion VND and one million USD. This contradicts Hau's testimony, who claimed he gave her money four times, totaling 40 billion VND and one million USD.

Borrowing one million USD for family expenses and charity

"Was the one million USD a loan you requested from Hau, or did he offer it?" the presiding judge asked Lan twice within about 15 minutes of questioning.

The former provincial party secretary explained that after a long acquaintance and many visits, their relationship became close. As the eldest child in her family, she had many expenses, so she borrowed one million USD from Hau. However, during the investigation, Hau claimed it was given to her to support the wholesale market project. She, therefore, "accepted this accusation from the prosecution."

The presiding judge interrupted, stating "there is only one truth" and asked Lan to clarify the number of times, the amount, and the purpose of receiving the money, rather than simply saying "accept."

Lan maintained she received money only three times, totaling 25 billion VND and one million USD. She reiterated that she received the money for various family expenses, charity work, supporting the poor, local social welfare projects, and assisting subordinates with serious illnesses.

"I even asked Hau, 'Why are you giving me so much money?' Hau said it was for me to spend and support the activities of my subordinates," Lan explained at the trial this morning.

Hoang Thi Thuy Lan at the trial on the afternoon of 24/6. Photo: Danh Lam

Hoang Thi Thuy Lan at the trial on the afternoon of 24/6. Photo: Danh Lam

According to the indictment, the one million USD was the second time Lan received money from Hau. On 19/3/2021, Lan called Hau to her home and said, "I have something; prepare one million USD for me immediately," gesturing with her right index finger.

In the early afternoon, Hau called Lan via Viber, telling her to "go home," then delivered the cash. During this exchange, Hau asked the party secretary to direct and influence relevant departments and sectors to facilitate Phuc Son Group's project.

Responding to this, Lan stated that after receiving the money, she did not exert any influence but simply thought that a capable enterprise should be supported in project implementation. Furthermore, no one influenced her to support Hau's projects.

"Because I worked for the Party, I wasn't fully aware of the project details. I only told Hau to present the project-related issues to the provincial People's Committee. I would support the policy," Lan said.

"So, do important provincial projects need to be reported to the party secretary or require the opinion of the provincial standing committee?" the presiding judge inquired. Lan explained that it depended on the scale of the project and whether it required consultation with the standing committee or the standing board of the provincial party committee.

The wholesale market project Phuc Son applied for had existed previously, with the policy approved but implementation delayed. Therefore, the provincial People's Committee did not need to report to the party secretary. "When Hau presented the project proposal, I agreed because I felt it was important to support business development," the former Vinh Phuc provincial party secretary stated.

Purchasing 15 land plots without asking the price, paying without receipts

Lan testified that she purchased around 15 land plots in Hau's project in Vinh Phuc, prompted by Hau's suggestion that the "land is good and profitable." She agreed, and with several friends and family members also interested in investing, she decided to proceed.

The party secretary then asked a subordinate to make an advance payment of about 25 billion VND to Phuc Son for the land purchase. Saying she "trusted Hau very much," she did not inquire about the price. Her subordinate also didn't obtain receipts during the payments, only reporting back that the "payment was complete."

Testifying the previous day, Hau stated that the value of the land plots was around 50 billion VND, and Lan had paid over 34 billion VND, more than 10 billion VND more than she claimed. Because the full payment hadn't been made, the company had not yet signed the transfer and title change procedures.

Nguyen Van Hau (in black t-shirt) at the trial this morning. Photo: Ngoc Thanh

Nguyen Van Hau (in black t-shirt) at the trial this morning. Photo: Ngoc Thanh

"Where did the money for the land purchase come from? Did Hau give it to you?" the presiding judge asked. Lan explained that only a portion came from Hau; the rest were family savings and funds from friends and relatives.

"I just bought it without knowing the price. After the purchase, Hau advised me not to sell, but to keep it because my family has a disabled child," the former secretary testified.

"At that time, given your position, would it have been problematic if Hau had directly transferred a few plots of land to you?" the presiding judge asked. Lan shook her head, saying, "buying and selling must be fair, with payment for purchases." She did not "ask for anything from the enterprise."

Concluding her testimony, Lan acknowledged her wrongdoing and said her family had returned all the bribe money.

Regarding the alleged collective damage of over 200 billion VND, she asked the judges to consider the matter, not proposing any remedial measures. As party secretary, she only supported policies for businesses and "did not pressure any agencies."

According to the indictment read yesterday, Hau received preferential treatment in Vinh Phuc to implement 4 real estate projects on the verge of being revoked in Vinh Tuong district, totaling 347 hectares.

To facilitate these projects, Hau carried suitcases of money 24 times to the offices and homes of Vinh Phuc provincial officials as thanks. Lan received the most, totaling 25 billion VND and one million USD; provincial chairman Le Duy Thanh received 20 billion VND and 1.3 million USD...

In the 10-day trial, among the 41 defendants, Hau is the only one being tried for three charges: bribery, accounting violations with serious consequences, and bidding violations with serious consequences. Lan, Thanh, and several other officials are accused of accepting bribes.

Pham Du - Thanh Lam