The Ministry of Public Security's investigation agency has completed its investigation and proposed to prosecute 41 defendants related to the case that occurred at Phuc Son Group Joint Stock Company and other units and localities. According to the investigation conclusion, defendant Nguyen Van Hau (aka Hau "Phao") gave bribes totaling more than 132 billion VND to many defendants in the case.

Among them, many defendants are former leaders of Vinh Phuc province who received large bribes from Hau "Phao". Specifically, Ms. Hoang Thi Thuy Lan, former Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, was accused of receiving bribes totaling nearly 48 billion VND; Mr. Le Duy Thanh, former Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, received bribes of nearly 49 billion VND; Mr. Pham Hoang Anh, former Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, former Director of the Department of Construction of Vinh Phuc province, received bribes of more than 800 million VND.

The above-mentioned defendants, for personal gain, took advantage of their positions and powers to direct, intervene, and create favorable conditions for Nguyen Van Hau 's enterprise to become the investor; adjust and allocate land to implement the Wholesale Market Project and other projects contrary to the law.

Regarding Mr. Pham Hoang Anh, the investigation concluded that, in addition to being accused of receiving bribes of over VND 800 million, Mr. Anh repeatedly suggested that the owner of Phuc Son Group give him money. Specifically, from April 2022 to the end of 2023, Hau gave money to Mr. Pham Hoang Anh four times.

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Nguyen Van Hau (left) and Pham Hoang Anh (right). Photo: Ministry of Public Security
Former Vinh Phuc Secretary Hoang Thuy Lan raised 1 finger, Hau "Phao" brought million USD Former Vinh Phuc Secretary Hoang Thuy Lan called Hau "Phao" to her private home and said: "I have something to do, prepare 1 million USD for me right away" and raised 1 index finger of her right hand...

Specifically, according to Nguyen Van Hau's testimony, around April 2022, Hau was contacted by Hoang Anh to suggest giving money. Hau agreed and directed his subordinates to prepare 500,000 USD and then directly deliver it to Pham Hoang Anh's private house in Long Bien district (Hanoi). When arriving, Mr. Hau said: "I have prepared 500,000 USD, let me tell the driver to give it to your driver" . Mr. Anh replied: "Thank you" . After that, Hau asked the driver to transfer the money to Mr. Pham Hoang Anh's driver.

The second time at the end of 2022, Pham Hoang Anh proactively contacted Hau to continue suggesting giving money, Hau agreed and prepared 5 billion VND to give to Hoang Anh at Hau's private home in Vinh Tuong district, Vinh Phuc.

The third time in mid-2023, the former Standing Deputy Secretary of the Vinh Phuc Provincial Party Committee suggested that Hau give money. Hau then agreed and prepared 300,000 USD and arranged to meet Mr. Anh at his private home in Vinh Tuong District, Vinh Phuc. In the evening of the same day, Mr. Hoang Anh went to Hau's private home and Hau gave him the above amount of money.

The fourth time was near the Lunar New Year 2024, Mr. Pham Hoang Anh continued to contact Hau to "suggest" to give money, Hau agreed and prepared 5 billion VND himself and had the driver deliver it to Mr. Anh's private house in Viet Tri City, Phu Tho Province. Notably, after this money transfer, just a short time later, on February 26, 2024, the Ministry of Public Security's Investigation Police Agency decided to prosecute and temporarily detain Mr. Nguyen Van Hau.

According to the investigation conclusion, Mr. Pham Hoang Anh's testimony showed that he received money from Mr. Hau "Phao" 4 times, totaling 5 billion VND and 500,000 USD.

Based on the investigation results of the case, the Ministry of Public Security's Investigation Agency concluded: From 2022 to January 2024, Nguyen Van Hau gave Mr. Pham Hoang Anh 4 times with a total amount of 5 billion VND and 500,000 USD. The investigation agency believes that this act does not constitute the crime of Receiving bribes but violates the Law on Anti-Corruption, so it should be confiscated and added to the state budget.

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Wholesale Market Project in Vinh Tuong District. Photo: V.Hau

The investigation also determined that Mr. Pham Hoang Anh played a very important role in the Wholesale Market project and Phuc Son Group. At the same time, in order for Hau's company to carry out real estate projects in Vinh Phuc province, it needs the support of Pham Hoang Anh.

According to the investigation conclusion, the Wholesale Market project was assigned by the Vinh Phuc Provincial People's Committee to Song Hong Thang Long Group Joint Stock Company as the investor at the end of 2012. By 2016, Song Hong Thang Long Group Joint Stock Company could not implement the tasks as approved by the Provincial People's Committee, so the province put the project on the list of projects to be revoked for investment policy.

Afterwards, Mr. Nguyen Van Hau met Ms. Hoang Thi Thuy Lan at the office to discuss the wholesale market project. Both agreed that Mr. Hau would buy back shares of Song Hong Thang Long Company to continue implementing the project.

The People's Committee of Vinh Phuc province then decided to approve the project in principle, assigning Thang Long Company as the investor with a total investment of more than 2,400 billion VND.

To complete the above procedures, Mr. Pham Hoang Anh played an important role when chairing a meeting with representatives of departments and branches of Vinh Phuc province to agree on the separation of the enterprise so that Thang Long Company could continue to implement the wholesale market project. On June 30, 2017, while holding the position of Director of the Department of Construction, Mr. Anh signed a submission to the Provincial People's Committee requesting approval of the project investment, even though the related documents did not meet the requirements according to regulations. Based on the submission signed by Mr. Anh, the Vinh Phuc Provincial People's Committee then issued a decision approving the project investment policy.

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Police investigators recommend many important issues after the Hau 'Phao' incident

Police investigators recommend many important issues after the Hau 'Phao' incident

The case that occurred at Phuc Son Group, chaired by Hau 'Phao', is a typical example of contractors colluding with investors to get information, thereby having the opportunity to win bids at very high prices.
Former Chairman of Vinh Phuc Le Duy Thanh received money from Hau 'Phao', gave it to his wife and in-laws to keep in a safe

Former Chairman of Vinh Phuc Le Duy Thanh received money from Hau 'Phao', gave it to his wife and in-laws to keep in a safe

After receiving a large sum of money from Hau "Phao" aka Nguyen Van Hau, Chairman of Phuc Son Group, Mr. Le Duy Thanh, former Chairman of Vinh Phuc Provincial People's Committee, gave it to his wife for safekeeping.
Thousands of red books, more than 500 taels of gold, luxury cars... were seized and distrained in the Hau 'Phao' case.

Thousands of red books, more than 500 taels of gold, luxury cars... were seized and distrained in the Hau 'Phao' case.

The investigation agency has seized and seized a huge amount of assets including 1,452 red books, 1,116,800 USD, 534 taels of SJC gold... during the investigation of the case that occurred at Phuc Son Group, chaired by Nguyen Van Hau, aka Hau 'Phao'.