Trial Underway for Previous Deputy Chief of NA Office: Phạm Thái Hà
In a significant development, a corruption trial involving high-ranking officials and major transport projects began on Monday in Hanoi. The trial, which is expected to shed light on allegations of collusion and illegal profits, has seen the indictment of 29 defendants, including Nguyen Duy Hung, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Thuaan An Group, and Pham Thai Ha, former Deputy Chief of the National Assembly Office.
At the centre of the controversy is Nguyen Duy Hung, accused of exploiting close connections with senior State officials, including Pham Thai Ha, to secure advantages for Thuaan An Group in bidding, winning contracts, and implementing state-funded transport projects. Hung is alleged to have caused losses of over VND120 billion (US$4.54 million) across five construction projects, beyond the losses mentioned earlier.
Hung and his accomplices are accused of collaborating with firms, local project heads, the Project Management Board No. 4 under the former Ministry of Transport, and consultancy units to unlawfully secure contracts and reap illegal profits. Defendant Hung is said to have personally approached provincial Party Committees, People's Committees, and officials at the Ministry of Transport to request directives favoring Thuaan An Group.
Leo Ô Pích, former Deputy Chairman of the Bac Giang Provincial People's Committee, has been charged with 'abuse of position and power while performing official duties.' Pích is accused of causing state losses of over VND96.8 billion (US$3.66 million) while personally gaining VND4 billion (US$151,500). Pích, however, has not been reported as investigated or charged in other court cases related to this matter.
Võ Tá Thanh, former head of an office under the Project Management Board No. 4 of the Ministry of Transport, has requested to be tried in absentia after suffering a recent stroke. Thanh is accused of violating bidding rules to help Thuận An Group win the contract for the National Highway 14E project, and allegedly received VNĐ20 million (US$760) in the process.
Phạm Thái Hà stands accused of 'abusing influence over persons in positions of authority for personal gain,' allegedly receiving VNĐ750 million (US$28,400) in illicit payments. The court has summoned five civil plaintiffs and several other parties with related interests and obligations. However, the Bắc Giang Project Management Board did not attend.
46 individuals with related rights and obligations also paid VND27 billion (US$1.02 million) and $10,000 towards remedying the consequences of the case. During the investigation and prior to the opening of the trial, the defendants and related parties paid more than VND116 billion (US$4.4 million) and $100,000 in compensation and restitution.
Former Party Secretary of the Bắc Giang Province's Party Committee Dương Văn Thái has also been indicted in connection with the case, but his case has been separated for investigation in another proceeding. The trial is expected to continue, with the aim of bringing transparency and justice to the allegations of corruption in major transport projects.
13 of the 29 defendants are currently in custody, while the remainder are under residential restrictions. The trial is a testament to the ongoing efforts to combat corruption in Vietnam's public sector and uphold the rule of law.
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