As Chairman of Phuc Son Group, Nguyen Van Hau was willing to spend more than 100 billion VND to facilitate his business in lucrative business deals. Hau “Phao” let his sister, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hang, hold the position of Deputy General Director of Phuc Son Group. At the same time, Ms. Hang was also trusted by Hau to be the “key keeper”.

According to Ms. Hang's testimony, she was in charge of the group's revenues and expenditures, disbursing money to Nguyen Van Hau whenever the defendant needed it, then recording it and giving it to the accountant and secretary to enter into the computer for monitoring.

Around 2017, under the direction of her younger brother, Ms. Hang prepared 20 billion VND in a suitcase and gave it to Hau. This statement of Ms. Hang is consistent with the statement of Hau "Phao" about giving Ms. Hoang Thi Thuy Lan (former Secretary of Vinh Phuc Provincial Party Committee) 20 billion VND in June 2017.

Ms. Hang stated that on March 15, 2021, after receiving her brother's request, she took 24 billion VND from the group's funds to buy 1 million USD. Ms. Hang put the above amount of money in a carry-on suitcase and together with the driver transferred it to Hau at the headquarters of the Vinh Phuc Provincial People's Committee.

Hoang Thi Thuy Lan 364.jpg
Ms. Hoang Thi Thuy Lan. Photo: Ngoc Thang

Four days later, Hau "Phao" asked his sister to prepare 1 million USD. Ms. Hang and the driver took 24 billion VND to buy USD and then delivered it to her younger brother. According to the investigation agency, Ms. Hang's statement is consistent with Nguyen Van Hau's statement about giving 1 million USD to Ms. Hoang Thi Thuy Lan on March 19, 2021.

At the investigation agency, Mr. Do Ngoc Quang (at that time, Deputy Chief of Office of Vinh Phuc Provincial Party Committee) confirmed that he received the suitcase twice (Mr. Quang understood that the suitcase contained money but did not know the quantity and type of money) to transfer to Ms. Hoang Thi Thuy Lan.

Mr. Quang stated that around mid-2017, someone called and told him to go down to the yard of the Vinh Phuc Provincial Party Committee headquarters to “receive documents for Ms. Lan”. Mr. Quang went down to the yard and called Ms. Lan about receiving the “documents”, Ms. Lan said: “Yes”. After that, Mr. Quang received a suitcase from Mr. Ta Minh Chinh (Nguyen Van Hau’s driver) at the Provincial Party Committee headquarters and immediately carried it to the office and gave it to Ms. Lan.

The second time, Mr. Chinh called Mr. Quang again to say he was receiving “documents” for his boss (the boss here was Hoang Thi Thuy Lan). At that time, Mr. Quang told Mr. Chinh: “Wait to ask for the boss’s opinion”. After that, Mr. Quang called Ms. Lan to report that someone had sent documents, the former Vinh Phuc Party Secretary asked Mr. Quang to “receive them for me”.

Next, Mr. Quang drove to a deserted road near the Vinh Phuc Provincial People's Committee, opened the trunk of the car so that Mr. Chinh could transfer a suitcase to Mr. Quang's car. Mr. Quang did not get out of the car, after receiving the suitcase, he drove back to the Provincial Party Committee headquarters, took the suitcase and brought it to Ms. Hoang Thi Thuy Lan's office.

According to Mr. Ta Minh Chinh's testimony, he has been driving for Nguyen Van Hau since 2007. In addition to driving, Hau "Phao" also asked Mr. Chinh to carry suitcases or plastic bags (Mr. Chinh understood that he had money, because he had done it many times) for Mr. Hau to give to individuals.

Around the beginning of June 2017, the Chairman of Phuc Son Group instructed Mr. Chinh to transfer money into a car and take Mr. Hau to the headquarters of Vinh Phuc Provincial Party Committee. Upon arrival, Hau "Phao" entered the headquarters of the Provincial Party Committee. Afterwards, Mr. Hau called the driver to contact and transfer money to Mr. Do Ngoc Quang outside the headquarters of Vinh Phuc Provincial Party Committee.

On March 15, 2021, Mr. Chinh drove Nguyen Van Hau to the headquarters of the Vinh Phuc Provincial People's Committee. After that, Mr. Hau's sister gave him a suitcase for Hau to carry to the headquarters of the Provincial People's Committee. On the afternoon of March 19, 2021, Mr. Chinh was given 2 bags of money by Mr. Hau's sister to transfer to Hau and was told to "immediately transfer 1 million USD" to Hau.

Mr. Chinh then transferred the money to the car and drove Hau to Ms. Hoang Thi Thuy Lan's house. When they arrived, Mr. Hau carried the money into the house himself, while Mr. Chinh waited in the car.

Regarding the case of former Vinh Phuc Party Secretary Hoang Thi Thuy Lan receiving money from Phuc Son Group Chairman Nguyen Van Hau, the Investigation Police Agency clarified that Hau "Phao" had given Ms. Hoang Thi Thuy Lan money three times, totaling 25 billion VND and 1 million USD.
Former secretary and chairman of Phu Tho received money from Hau 'Phao' at his office.

Former secretary and chairman of Phu Tho received money from Hau 'Phao' at his office.

The former Secretary and Chairman of Phu Tho province took advantage of his position and authority to influence and direct the creation of favorable conditions for Phuc Son Group to win the bid for the Festival Center Project at the Hung Temple Historical Relic Site by means of designated bidding.
Close-up of Hau 'Phao's' mansion, where the billion-dollar bribery took place in Vinh Phuc

Close-up of Hau 'Phao's' mansion, where the billion-dollar bribery took place in Vinh Phuc

The impressive mansion of thousands of square meters of Nguyen Van Hau (aka Hau 'Phao') is located in Vinh Tuong district (Vinh Phuc). Here, Hau received many provincial leaders and gave bribes worth billions of dong.
Before being arrested, Hau 'Phao' confessed to giving 5 billion VND to an officer.

Before being arrested, Hau 'Phao' confessed to giving 5 billion VND to an officer.

Before being prosecuted and temporarily detained by the Ministry of Public Security's Investigation Police Agency, Mr. Hau "Phao" repeatedly gave gifts to a leader of Vinh Phuc province with an especially large amount of money.