Recommend that the Ministry of Education and Training control the regular purchasing activities of the Education Publishing House.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Thai when he was still in office - Photo: Vietnam Education Publishing House

The Ministry of Public Security's Investigation Police Agency has just issued an investigation conclusion, proposing to prosecute Mr. Nguyen Duc Thai, former chairman of the Vietnam Education Publishing House (Education Publishing House), for bribery.

The two defendants To My Ngoc, former chairwoman of the board of directors of Phung Vinh Hung Company and Nguyen Tri Minh, director of Minh Cuong Phat Company, were both proposed to be prosecuted for bribery...

The familiar chair where the female president sat to give money in the room of the former president of the Education Publishing House

According to the testimony of defendant Nguyen Duc Thai at the investigation agency, every year, before organizing the purchase of printing paper, Ms. To My Ngoc came to meet and discuss creating conditions for Ngoc's companies to win bids and purchase packages, and continue to be provided with printing paper for the Education Publishing House.

At the meetings, Ngoc promised to thank.

The police investigation agency determined that Mr. Thai received a total of 20 billion VND in bribes from Ms. Ngoc.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Thai confessed that the first time, around May 2017 (when preparing a plan to purchase printing paper), Ngoc went to Mr. Thai's office at the headquarters of the Education Publishing House.

At this meeting, Ms. Ngoc introduced her company, which has been supplying paper to the Education Publishing House for many years, and asked Mr. Thai to help her, promising not to forget the favor.

After Phung Vinh Hung Company won 3 bid packages in 2017, on December 13, 2017, defendant Ngoc called and Mr. Thai agreed to meet the next morning at Mr. Thai's office.

On the same day, when getting off the plane, Ms. Ngoc texted Mr. Thai saying "I just arrived in Hanoi, see you later". Mr. Thai texted back "see you at the Education Publishing House".

When Ms. Ngoc arrived, Mr. Tran Cong Thanh (Thai's secretary) reported and led Ms. Ngoc into the office.

Mr. Thai stated that Ngoc sat in the first seat (a row of 3 seats), left the money bag on the floor, next to the coffee table and said: "I have a little gift to thank you for helping the company win the bid, next year the company will ask for your help". Mr. Thai replied: "Thank you".

When Ms. Ngoc left, Mr. Thai opened the gift bag and saw 3 billion VND, including 6 stacks, each stack had 10 sheaves, each sheaf was worth 50 million VND, wrapped tightly in large paper. Mr. Thai kept the money in the safe in his office.

The second time Mr. Thai received bribes from Ms. Ngoc was around the end of 2018 and the beginning of 2019.

This time, Ms. Ngoc also went to Mr. Thai's office to visit and thank him for creating conditions to help Phung Vinh Hung Company bid and win the bid.

Just like last time, Ms. Ngoc carried a bag of money and went alone into Mr. Thai's office.

Here, Ms. Ngoc continued to sit in the old chair and said: "I came to thank you for helping the company bid and win the bid. I hope you will help us. The company will accompany the Education Publishing House in providing paper."

After the guests left, Mr. Thai opened the bag and found 4 billion VND and continued to put the money in the safe.

At the investigation agency, defendant Nguyen Duc Thai also confessed that the third, fourth, and fifth times he received money in 2019, 2020, and 2021 were all similar to the previous two times.

Ms. Ngoc went to Mr. Thai's office to visit and thank him for his help and gave a bag of 4 billion VND/time to the former chairman of the Education Publishing House.

After receiving the money, Thai kept it in a safe in his office.

In addition, on the occasion of Lunar New Year from 2018-2022, Ms. Ngoc gave Mr. Thai 200 million VND/year as thanks, a total of 1 billion VND.

All five times Ms. Ngoc came to give money to Mr. Thai, she did so in the same way, sitting in the first chair in Mr. Thai's office.

Before coming, Ms. Ngoc often texted or called to make an appointment, sometimes contacting via the Viber application.

In addition to receiving money from Ms. Ngoc, Mr. Thai was also accused of receiving bribes many times from Mr. Nguyen Tri Minh.

According to the investigation results, Mr. Minh gave a total bribe of 4.9 billion VND to get Nguyen Duc Thai to create conditions to win 5 bid packages, with a total value of 209 billion VND.

The investigation agency accused the defendants of causing damage to the case of 10 billion VND.

After helping two businesses win bids to supply printing paper, Mr. Thai received bribes many times, totaling 24.9 billion VND.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Thai, former chairman of the board of members of Vietnam Education Publishing House (left cover), with three defendants - Photo: Ministry of Public Security

"The Ministry of Education and Training must have inspectors directly supervise the bidding process."

According to the Investigation Police Agency, purchasing paper to print educational books is a regular activity carried out annually by the Education Publishing House.

The price of printing paper accounts for 30-40% of the textbook price structure, so buying printing paper at a high price will increase the price of books.

In addition, purchasing printing paper through competitive bidding allows investors to decide on the shortlist, limiting the participation of suppliers with capacity and low prices.

Therefore, this form of purchasing printing paper does not ensure competition, fairness, transparency and economic efficiency.

The police investigation agency assessed that the lack of regulations or unclear regulations on the applicable limits for forms of contractor selection led to businesses taking advantage of this to issue limits much higher than those prescribed by the Law on Bidding for forms of contractor selection such as competitive bidding and shortened competitive bidding.

"This is the reason for collusion in putting contractors on the selected list, creating conditions for winning bids, risking causing great damage to the State," the Investigation Police Agency emphasized.

In addition, the Ministry of Education and Training assigned inspectors to the Education Publishing House but did not clearly stipulate direct control and participation in bidding activities with regular purchasing activities. From there, the defendants took advantage to commit violations for a long time.

The police investigation agency recommended that the Ministry of Education and Training should have specific regulations on monitoring and controlling the regular purchasing activities of the Education Publishing House.

In particular, the Ministry of Education and Training must allow controllers to directly supervise the bidding process and cases where it is mandatory to report to the ministry on the results of contractor selection.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/kien-nghi-bo-giao-duc-va-dao-tao-kiem-soat-hoat-dong-mua-sam-thuong-xuyen-cua-nha-xuat-ban-giao-duc-20240924113100528.htm