A Phuc Son Corporation representative said they had coordinated with a partner to pay 768 billion VND to Hau.
Hau testified that on the afternoon of 3/7, he was informed of this by a prison officer and was "so happy I cried. I lay on my right side and soaked my right hand with tears, then lay on my left side and soaked my left hand". He said that from the investigation phase to the trial, he always wanted to find a partner to sell 196 plots of land to recover the money to remedy the consequences. He expressed joy that the court and the procuracy had facilitated this.
"I thank the court and the procuracy for facilitating me to fully remedy the consequences of the case. This is a mitigating circumstance, and I hope the court will consider it for the other 40 defendants who have to bear responsibility because of me," the Phuc Son Corporation owner said.
The procuracy considered the new circumstances, the merits and contributions of the former local leaders, and additional payments made by some individuals to amend the sentencing recommendations for 8 people.
The procuracy recommended 14-15 years for Hau for bribery (previously 17-18 years); 7-8 years for accounting violations causing serious consequences (previously 11-12 years); and 11-12 years for violations of bidding regulations causing serious consequences (previously 15-16 years). However, the total recommended sentence remained unchanged at 30 years.
Seven former officials had their sentences reduced: Pham Van Vong, former Vinh Phuc Provincial Party Committee Secretary; Phung Quang Hung, former Chairman; and Ha Hoa Binh, former Vice Chairman of the Vinh Phuc Provincial People's Committee, all had their sentences reduced to 3-4 years (previously 4 years to 4 years and 6 months).
Bui Minh Hong, former Chairman of Vinh Tuong District People's Committee, Vinh Phuc, was recommended 4-5 years (previously 5-6 years); Hoang Quoc Tri, former Vice Chairman of this district, 3-4 years (previously 3 years and 6 months to 4 years and 6 months). Two defendants, Do Ngoc Hoa, former Director of APEC Auditing and Consulting Co., Ltd., and Nguyen Minh An, both had their sentences reduced to 2-3 years.
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The trial was presided over by Judge Tran Nam Ha. Photo: Danh Lam |
The trial was presided over by Judge Tran Nam Ha. Photo: Danh Lam
After 10 days of trial, this morning, presiding Judge Tran Nam Ha was scheduled to announce the verdict on behalf of the Hanoi People's Court for 41 individuals involved in the major case of bid rigging, bribery, and accounting violations.
According to the accusations, former provincial leaders were manipulated with money by Hau's businesses, creating interest groups, stemming from their moral degradation and driven by personal gain.
Taking advantage of this, over 15 years from 2008-2023, during the implementation of 14 projects and bidding packages in Vinh Phuc, Quang Ngai, and Phu Tho, the Phuc Son Corporation violated the law, profiting enormously, eroding public trust, and causing public outrage.
In this case, Vinh Phuc had the most officials on trial with 15 people, including two former Provincial Party Committee Secretaries, Hoang Thi Thuy Lan and Pham Van Vong; former Permanent Deputy Secretary Pham Hoang Anh; and two former Provincial People's Committee Chairmen, Le Duy Thanh and Phung Quang Hung.
Lan was therefore recommended by the procuracy to 14-15 years in prison for bribery – the second highest penalty among the defendants. Eight other former officials were recommended 4-10 years in prison for the same crime.
The person facing the highest recommended sentence is the owner of Phuc Son, with 30 years in prison for three counts: bribery, accounting violations causing serious consequences, and violations of bidding regulations causing serious consequences.
>>Recommended sentences for 41 defendants
Regarding civil matters, the procuracy proposed confiscating all bribes received in the case, along with any profits derived and money returned by related individuals, for the state treasury. Any defendant who has not yet paid should continue to be pursued for collection.
The procuracy requested Hau to pay 1,164 billion VND in profits to the state budget.
Yesterday, Hau's lawyer said his client had 768 billion VND deposited into the account of the Hanoi Civil Judgment Enforcement Department to remedy the consequences. According to the lawyer's calculations, the amount exceeded the required sum by over 60 billion VND.
Thanh Lam
