On 8/1, Nguyen Xuan Hai, former director of Vehicle Registration Center 50-04V under the Vietnam Register, along with Chu Dinh Hiep, former deputy director, and 13 vehicle inspectors, faced trial at the Ho Chi Minh City People's Court. They are charged with receiving bribes.

In connection with the case, 49 other defendants were indicted for giving and receiving bribes. The court summoned 86 individuals with related rights and obligations, including two former directors of the Vietnam Register, Tran Ky Hinh and Dang Viet Ha, who are currently serving sentences. Neither was present at the proceedings.

The trial is expected to continue until 22/1.

Nguyen Xuan Hai (far right) and other defendants in court today. Photo: Hai Duyen

According to the indictment, Nguyen Xuan Hai initiated a policy allowing inspectors to accept money from vehicle owners or brokers to overlook vehicle defects. This was done to meet the Vietnam Register's vehicle inspection quotas and to increase revenue for "diplomatic" expenses, client entertainment, and payments to Vietnam Register leaders. Additionally, Hai permitted mechanics to repair vehicles directly on the inspection lane to avoid re-inspection.

To facilitate these "diplomatic" activities, Hai directly mandated that each inspection lane pay a "fee" of 10 million VND weekly. Lane supervisors communicated this policy to inspectors for consistent implementation. After a fixed sum was remitted to Hai from the money collected from vehicle owners and brokers, the remaining amount was equally distributed among the board of directors and the lane's inspectors.

In 3/2022, upon learning that Dang Viet Ha, then director of the Vietnam Register, required "contributions" of 8,000 to 11,000 VND per successfully inspected vehicle from "V-block" inspection centers, Hai instructed to increase the weekly payment to 13 million VND per lane. The surplus funds were still divided according to the previous proportions.

Markers for bribe money

Inspectors used specific symbols on inspection slips to differentiate vehicles that had paid bribes. These included: D4V, N, SN, Ch..., corresponding to brokers Nguyen Tran Dung, Ta Cong Nghia, Nguyen Ngoc Son, and Nguyen Huu Chinh. For vehicles brought in by inspectors or brokers, Luu Cao My Da, an office employee at the center, would mark the inspection slip with a symbol for identification.

The defendants agreed upon specific bribe amounts. If an inspector received money directly, the fee was 300,000 VND for trailers, 500,000 VND for tractor units, and one million VND for vehicles with added generators. If paid through a broker, inspectors received 200,000 VND per trailer, 300,000 VND per tractor unit, and 500,000 VND per vehicle with an added generator.

Weekly, each inspection lane had to pay a fixed amount to Nguyen Xuan Hai: 10 million VND per lane from 1/2022 to 2/2022, and 13 million VND per lane from 3/2022 to 10/2022. Hai used these funds for "diplomatic" purposes and client entertainment, received via bank transfer or cash. The remaining money was equally divided among the board of directors and inspectors.

For lanes one and two, money was shared weekly; for lanes three and four, it was shared daily, while the payment to Hai remained a weekly calculation.

The defendants in court today. Photo: Hai Duyen

Bribe money was collected through various methods. If a driver left money in the vehicle, the inspector performing the first step in the lane would take it. For cases with prior agreements between an inspector and a vehicle owner, applicant, or broker, that inspector would directly receive the money and report it to the lane chief for daily collection and agreed-upon distribution.

Additionally, inspectors had agreements with certain transport companies to pay inspection fees and road usage fees on their behalf. These companies would then transfer these amounts back, along with the agreed bribe for the inspectors.

Regarding the weekly payments made by the lanes to Hai for "diplomatic" purposes, Hai used these funds to bribe directors Tran Ky Hinh and Dang Viet Ha. These payments occurred in their offices during Hai's visits to the Vietnam Register or when the directors traveled to Ho Chi Minh City.

Investigating authorities determined that defendants Nguyen Xuan Hai and Chu Dinh Hiep are jointly criminally responsible for the total amount of 6,3 billion VND received by inspectors at the registration center.

By Hai Duyen