On 25/6, Dang Van Minh and other former Quang Ngai provincial officials were questioned by the Hanoi People's Court regarding violations in the case involving the Phuc Son Corporation.

Among the 6 former provincial leaders on trial, 3 were prosecuted for accepting bribes: Cao Khoa, former provincial chairman; Le Viet Chu, former vice chairman and former provincial party secretary; and Dang Van Minh, former director of the Department of Transport and former provincial chairman.

>>List of 41 defendants

They were determined to have accepted 22.6 billion VND and 200,000 USD while in office to support Hau's corporation in winning the province's largest projects: the south Tra Khuc River road (now Truong Sa road) and the National Highway 1 renovation, with a total investment value of about 900 billion VND. At the time, Hau was only 30 years old.

In his testimony this morning, former provincial party secretary Khoa revealed a meeting with the owner of Phuc Son Corporation, defendant Nguyen Van Hau (also known as Hau "Phao"), during a business trip to Hanoi with "fellow provincial leaders." They were invited to dinner by "someone" and introduced to Hau.

Following that meeting, in early 2012, when the south Tra Khuc River road project emerged, Hau was the first to be tipped off by provincial leaders.

Around the same time, Khoa's wife was hospitalized after a fall. Hau traveled from Vinh Phuc to the clinic in Quang Ngai to offer his regards along with 20,000 USD.

"I accepted it then, but now I realize Hau was just using the opportunity to give me money, seeking my support for the project," the former Quang Ngai provincial party secretary explained this morning.

Khoa admitted to the charge of receiving over 6.4 billion VND in bribes, of which 6 billion came through Minh, who was then still the director of the Department of Transport. "Minh said it was a thank you gift, without specifying what it was for, and didn't mention Hau, but I guessed," Khoa stated.

Before the court, the former Quang Ngai provincial party secretary did not question the charges and the People's Procuracy acknowledged that he had returned all the illicit gains.

Khoa is currently 71 years old and is out on bail.

Former director of Quang Ngai Department of Transport Dang Van Minh (long-sleeved shirt, front row) and former Vinh Phuc provincial party secretary Hoang Thi Thuy Lan. Photo: Ngoc Thanh

Former director of Quang Ngai Department of Transport Dang Van Minh (long-sleeved shirt, front row) and former Vinh Phuc provincial party secretary Hoang Thi Thuy Lan. Photo: Ngoc Thanh

"Hau has a very good heart"

Testifying afterward, Minh admitted to being the "intermediary," receiving money from Hau to distribute to Quang Ngai provincial leaders. "Please send this to the provincial leaders, handle it harmoniously," Minh recalled Hau saying when giving him the money.

"Why did Hau have to give money?", presiding judge Tran Nam Ha inquired. Minh replied that it was because they had facilitated Hau's projects.

Specifically, following Secretary Khoa's directive in 4/2012, when the province opened the bidding package, Minh proactively disclosed information and cost estimates to Hau to "ensure he won the bid."

Hau used tactics to falsify the company's capacity profile to legitimize it and hired 3 companies as bidders. Phuc Son Corporation won the bid and received 620 billion VND from Quang Ngai province.

While admitting to a 5% profit-sharing agreement with the phrase "that's up to you," Minh insisted that he had demanded Hau "guarantee the quality and progress of the project." In reality, according to him, the project met quality standards and was completed 3 months ahead of schedule.

In addition to the 12 billion VND split between Provincial Party Secretary Khoa and Vice Chairman Le Viet Chu, Minh said he also gave 1.5 billion VND each to a provincial chairman and Vo Trong Phuong, then director of the provincial project management board.

"But I cannot prove it, so I will take full responsibility," Minh stated in court this morning.

Called to stand up for cross-examination, Phuong twice denied this testimony. "If Mr. Minh actually gave me money, thank you very much, because the project management board was in dire straits at the time," Phuong said.

Le Viet Chu, former vice chairman of the provincial People's Committee and former Quang Ngai provincial party secretary, on the morning of 25/6. Photo: Ngoc Thanh

Le Viet Chu, former vice chairman of the provincial People's Committee and former Quang Ngai provincial party secretary, on the morning of 25/6. Photo: Ngoc Thanh

Regarding the National Highway 1 project, which took place two years later, when Minh was the chairman of Quang Ngai province, the People's Procuracy determined that Minh proactively met with Hau and suggested he undertake the project, despite knowing that the corporation lacked the financial capacity and experience for construction.

In this 280 billion VND project, Hau gave Minh an additional 600 million VND and 40,000 USD. He did not share this with anyone.

Explaining why he accepted the 40,000 USD, Minh said Hau "has a very good heart," frequently engages in social welfare activities, and often said, "If you're building charity houses or doing social work, let me know."

According to the former Quang Ngai chairman, the 40,000 USD was actually given to him by Hau to transfer to Pho An commune, Duc Pho town (his birthplace) for charitable work. Minh exchanged this money for 960 million VND, which he used to build 8 charity houses for poor households and families of policy beneficiaries.

Speaking of his hometown, Minh wiped away tears, explaining that he lost his grandparents and parents in the war at the age of 5, and grew up thanks to the support of the community, striving relentlessly. During his 33 years of service, he said he never neglected his duties but was heartbroken because "by not fighting, I lost myself."

Quang Ngai province representative requests reduced sentences for 6 former leaders

At the court this morning, former Quang Ngai provincial chairman Le Viet Chu did not dispute the alleged amount but "honestly" could not recall the details of the times, locations, or amounts. He only received money from Minh and at the time did not think it was illicit.

"I thought Minh and I were brothers for 20 years. I was the head, Minh was the deputy. I moved up, so did Minh," Chu said, adding that he only realized later, while working with the investigating agency, that accepting the money was wrong.

Chu testified that he knew Hau from 4/2012 when the province launched the south Tra Khuc River road project. Secretary Khoa called him and said, "Come over here and meet Hau for a bit."

When Hau talked about the project, he was very happy, "supportive and encouraged him to work faster" because it was a project he had long desired for the locality, essential for urban and coastal development, and tourism.

People drying chili peppers on the sidewalk along the south Tra Khuc River road (now Truong Sa Road), considered the most scenic road in the city. Photo: Thanh Lam

People drying chili peppers on the sidewalk along the south Tra Khuc River road (now Truong Sa Road), considered the most scenic road in the city. Photo: Thanh Lam

Addressing the court, the Quang Ngai province representative praised the projects carried out by Phuc Son in the area. The projects were built during a special period when the province was promoting investment in connecting the transport system to expand the city and national highway, creating momentum for the province's development.

According to the representative, the defendants, who were provincial leaders at the time, were all very dedicated to ensuring the projects were completed quickly and efficiently. The south Tra Khuc River road project, now renamed Truong Sa road, has fulfilled its mission of connecting transport infrastructure, expanding the city from west to east, and enabling Quang Ngai City to become a class-2 urban area. "Until now, this is the most beautiful road along the Tra Khuc River in the province, and the quality of the work is still highly appreciated by the people."

"The violations have been determined by the prosecution agency, but the Quang Ngai provincial People's Committee hopes the court will consider the contributions and merits of the defendants during their service and to the development of the locality," the representative said, requesting reduced sentences for all 6 former provincial officials.

The trial continues this afternoon.

Thanh Lam - Pham Du