Arrest of Mr. Pham Thai Ha, Deputy Head of the National Assembly Office, Assistant to the National Assembly Chairman

Mr. Pham Thai Ha, deputy head of the National Assembly Office and assistant to the National Assembly Chairman, was temporarily detained by the investigation agency for the crime of taking advantage of his position and power to influence others for personal gain due to his involvement in the Thuan An Group case.

Mr. Pham Thai Ha, Deputy Head of the National Assembly Office and Assistant to Politburo Member and National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue - Photo: National Assembly Portal

On April 22, Lieutenant General To An Xo, spokesman for the Ministry of Public Security, said that the Ministry of Public Security's Investigation Police Agency has issued a decision to prosecute and order the temporary detention of Mr. Pham Thai Ha, deputy director of the National Assembly Office and assistant to Politburo member and Chairman of the National Assembly. Mr. Pham Thai Ha is being investigated for the crime of abusing his position and power to influence others for personal gain. The decision to prosecute Mr. Pham Thai Ha was issued by the investigation agency on April 21. On April 22, the Supreme People's Procuracy approved the procedural decisions, and the investigation agency searched Mr. Pham Thai Ha's residence and workplace. According to Lieutenant General To An Xo, Mr. Pham Thai Ha was arrested while the investigation agency was expanding the case of "violating bidding regulations causing serious consequences; giving bribes; receiving bribes" occurring at Thuan An Group. Regarding this case, on April 15, the Ministry of Public Security informed that the investigation agency had prosecuted and executed an order to temporarily detain Mr. Nguyen Duy Hung, Chairman of Thuan An Group Joint Stock Company.

Mr. Pham Thai Ha at the investigation agency - Photo: Ministry of Public Security

Mr. Nguyen Duy Hung was investigated for violating bidding regulations causing serious consequences and bribery. At the same time, C03 issued a decision to prosecute the accused, and executed an order to temporarily detain Mr. Hoang The Du, head of the Bac Giang Provincial Project Management Board, for "violating bidding regulations causing serious consequences"; Mr. Tran Anh Quang, general director of Thuan An Group Joint Stock Company, for "giving bribes". Mr. Nguyen Khac Man, deputy general director of Thuan An Group, was prosecuted and temporarily detained by C03 for "violating bidding regulations causing serious consequences" and "giving bribes". The investigation agency also prosecuted the accused, executed an order to temporarily detain two officials of the Bac Giang Provincial Traffic and Agricultural Construction Investment Project Management Board, including: Nguyen Van Thao - director of the board and Dam Van Cuong - deputy director of the board. Both defendants are being investigated for "violating bidding regulations causing serious consequences", while Mr. Thao is also being investigated for "accepting bribes". Lieutenant General Xo added that the Ministry of Public Security's Investigation Police Agency is currently focusing its forces, expanding the investigation, clarifying the defendants' violations, wrongdoings at Thuan An Group Joint Stock Company and related units and organizations to strictly handle them according to the law and completely recover assets.

Mr. Pham Thai Ha (from Tien Hai, Thai Binh province) has a doctorate in economics and was a Vietnamese practicing auditor (CPA) specializing in finance and banking. Mr. Ha has held the following positions: Secretary of the State Auditor General; Secretary of the Minister of Finance; Director of the Department, Secretary of the Head of the Central Economic Commission; Assistant to the Deputy Prime Minister; Assistant to the Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee. Mr. Pham Thai Ha was appointed Deputy Director of the National Assembly Office and Assistant to National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue from May 2022.

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