On 4/3/2026, Dang Thanh Tung, former chairman of Thanh Tri ward, and his deputy Nguyen Vu Diem; Bui Thanh Nha, former head of the Hoang Mai district urban construction order management team, and his deputy Le Thanh Thuy, along with two former specialists Tran Van Quan and Vu Cat Su, were tried by the Hanoi People's Court for receiving bribes.

The six former officials are accused of exploiting their positions from August 2024 to March 2025. They allegedly accepted bribes from six households to avoid processing violations for illegal or unlicensed construction projects in Thanh Tri ward, Hoang Mai district, Hanoi.

The total bribe money received amounted to 920 million dong, distributed as follows: Tung received 25-30%; Diem 15-20%; Nha 20%; and Thuy, Su, and Quan each received 10%.

From left: defendants Su, Quan, Diem, Tung, Nha, Thuy at the investigation agency. Photo: Ngoc Bich

320 million dong received for five-story house construction

In the first incident, which occurred in August 2024, the procuracy determined that Ms. Chung, owner of a three-story house with a mezzanine on Thanh Dam street, visited the Thanh Tri ward office to meet Chairman Tung and Vice Chairman Diem. She sought permission to build up to five stories. Diem "quoted" her 100 million dong, which she immediately transferred to the vice chairman in his office. A few days later, she gave an additional 20 million dong.

In December of the same year, after an inspection, Ms. Chung's house and two neighboring households were still found to be in violation of construction regulations, and they were ordered to stop work. Ms. Chung fronted 100 million dong, inviting her two neighbors to the ward office to give additional cash to Vice Chairman Diem.

In January 2025, Ms. Chung continued her efforts by visiting Nha, then head of the Hoang Mai district urban construction order management team, at his home to give him 100 million dong.

Police working at the illegally extended house. Photo: Ngoc Bich

Additionally, five other bribery incidents, totaling 600 million dong from households within the ward, were identified during the same period. These homeowners sought to add one to two stories, make renovations without permits, or construct unauthorized balconies, technical stairwells, or elevator shafts.

They proactively met with Chairman Tung, Vice Chairman Diem, or Quan, a specialist from the Hoang Mai district urban construction order management team, to "resolve" issues. Others approached them after completing construction and being discovered in violation.

The former officials themselves proposed and guided the "prices". The money provided by the households was collected in specialist Quan's office cabinet; some had been divided, while other amounts remained undivided.

When arrested in March 2025, 490 million dong, all from these illicit sources, was found in Quan's cabinet. This money had been reported to Tung and Diem and has since been submitted to the investigation agency.

Former ward chairman Dang Thanh Tung admitted instructing Quan to facilitate construction for residents without proper permits in exchange for "thank you money". Tung tasked Quan with managing and distributing these funds to involved individuals.

Before the trial, the defendants' families repaid over 1.2 billion dong.

The six homeowners involved in construction violations were not criminally prosecuted for bribery. The investigation agency noted their proactive disclosure, submission of crime reports, acknowledgment of violations, and self-demolition of unauthorized structures.