On 24/6, after the Hanoi People's Court spent over half a day announcing the indictment, the court began questioning 40 defendants in the case involving Phuc Son Corporation.

The 44-year-old chairman of Phuc Son Corporation, Nguyen Van Hau, is the only defendant charged with three counts: bribery, accounting violations causing serious consequences, and bidding violations causing serious consequences.

> List of 41 defendants

During his 15 years leading the company, Hau is accused of paying 132 billion VND to 18 officials in Vinh Phuc, Phu Tho, and Quang Ngai provinces to pave the way for and illegally approve 14 projects. He is also accused of underreporting over 2 trillion VND in revenue to commit tax fraud, causing total damages of 1.164 trillion VND, according to the procuracy.

Phuc Son Chairman Nguyen Van Hau. Photo: Danh Lam

Phuc Son Chairman Nguyen Van Hau. Photo: Danh Lam

During the afternoon session, when asked about plans to remedy the situation, Hau accepted full responsibility as the head of the company. The Phuc Son chairman stated he had sent at least three letters to the procuracy requesting permission to liquidate some family assets to fully compensate for the damages.

According to court documents, Hau has had 1,419 properties, 247 billion VND in accounts, 501 taels of gold, cash, and USD seized.

At the trial, Hau added that in addition to the substantial seized properties, he possesses 884 land titles not seized but currently restricted from trading. As he has secured buyers, Hau requested the court and procuracy to facilitate the sale of these assets.

Hau estimated that selling 196 of these 884 plots would generate "more than enough money" to cover all damages. "If permitted, my family commits to fully compensating within 4-5 days," Hau stated at the first-instance trial.

Hau declared that Phuc Son Corporation and he personally have no outstanding debts with any credit institutions, claiming to have "a lot of assets." When the presiding judge inquired about the assets already submitted, Hau struggled to recall the amounts in his savings accounts, stating, "One with two hundred billion, one with 50 billion or so, and another 16 billion not yet withdrawn..."

Regarding the 501 taels of gold seized during the investigation, Hau confirmed its authenticity but admitted to being unaware of gold price fluctuations since his arrest on 26/2/2024.

Based on Hanoi's SJC gold price of 117.5 million VND per tael today, the seized gold could be worth up to 58.8 billion VND.

People watch vehicles transporting the defendants to the Hanoi People's Court on 24/6. Photo: Ngoc Thanh

People watch vehicles transporting the defendants to the Hanoi People's Court on 24/6. Photo: Ngoc Thanh

"I'll send you a gift"

Admitting to all accusations and the indicted amount, Hau testified that while undertaking projects in the three provinces, he personally met with and requested assistance from provincial leaders, including the provincial Party Committee Secretary and chairman. Hau delegated dealings with lower-ranking officials from departments and agencies to his deputy, Pham Ngoc Cuong.

Specifically, in Vinh Phuc, Hau personally met with two generations of Provincial Party Committee Secretaries, Hoang Thi Thuy Lan and Pham Van Vong, along with Provincial Chairman Le Duy Thanh and Pham Hoang Anh, the standing deputy secretary.

"What were the terms of the agreement?" Presiding Judge Tran Nam Ha inquired. Hau quickly corrected, "No agreement, your honor, just discussions and requests."

"How did you request Ms. Lan's assistance?" Hau replied, "I said, 'Please help me, and I'll send you a gift.' The same with Mr. Thanh."

The procuracy alleges that in Vinh Phuc, Hau received preferential treatment to execute 4 real estate projects on the verge of revocation in Vinh Tuong district, totaling 347 hectares, equivalent to 2.4% of the district's total area (144 km2).

In Phu Tho, Hau secured 4 bidding packages for the Hung Kings Temple historical relic site project by bribing provincial leaders and relic site officials. However, according to Hau, the payments were not bribes but simply gifts for holidays and special occasions.

"Hung Kings Temple is a sacred and historical site. The tomb renovation was agreed upon without any bargaining," Hau claimed.

In Quang Ngai, Hau and former provincial leaders agreed on a 5% kickback of the post-tax contract value. Hau explained that since Vinh Phuc (his company's headquarters and his hometown) is quite far from Quang Ngai, he would accumulate the money and deliver it in several installments to Dang Van Minh, then director of the Department of Transport, who would then "distribute it to everyone else."

When asked by the presiding judge to detail the amounts, times, locations, and methods of payment to each official, Hau recalled the amounts paid to the 18 individuals with considerable clarity.

Former Vinh Phuc Party Secretary Lan is accused of receiving nearly 50 billion VND in three installments. However, Hau testified to giving Ms. Lan 20 billion VND at her home in 2017, one million USD at her home in 2021, and two payments of 10 billion VND each in 2022, totaling 40 billion VND and one million USD.

Vinh Phuc Provincial Party Committee Secretary Hoang Thi Thuy Lan. Photo: Danh Lam

Vinh Phuc Provincial Party Committee Secretary Hoang Thi Thuy Lan. Photo: Danh Lam

Hau had the money placed in suitcases for his driver to deliver to Ms. Lan's secretary; other times, it was in black nylon bank bags. All bribes were in cash.

During the investigation, Ms. Lan only admitted to receiving 10 billion VND and 500,000 USD.

After his projects were completed, Hau claimed to see great development potential and asked Ms. Lan if she wanted to purchase any properties. Ms. Lan subsequently bought 16 plots for a total of 50 billion VND but had only paid 34 billion VND and therefore had not yet received the land titles. During the investigation, Ms. Lan offered these plots to compensate for the damages. She is recorded as having returned 20 billion VND of the nearly 50 billion VND received in bribes.

Former Vinh Phuc Chairman Le Duy Thanh is also accused of receiving a similar amount to Ms. Lan, totaling 20 billion VND and 1.3 million USD. Hau delivered the money twice to Mr. Thanh's home, once to his office at the Vinh Phuc Provincial People's Committee headquarters, and once to Hau's own home.

Mr. Thanh has returned 25.5 billion VND and 1.63 million USD, exceeding the alleged bribe amount.

Former Deputy Secretary Pham Hoang Anh returned 18 billion VND despite only being accused of receiving 853 million VND in bribes. According to Hau's testimony, the two have been close friends for 20 years, as Hoang Anh's father worked with Hau's mother, and their families are close.

In addition to the 400 million VND and 20,000 USD he is accused of receiving in bribes (totaling 853 million VND), Hau stated he would often give Hoang Anh money whenever he mentioned financial difficulties, out of "friendship." Hau couldn't recall the exact amount, estimating it to be 10 billion VND and 800,000 USD.

The court will continue questioning the remaining 40 defendants tomorrow.

Thanh Lam - Pham Du