Defendant Hoang Thi Thuy Lan, former Provincial Party Secretary, received 14 years in prison; defendant Le Duy Thanh, former Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee, was sentenced to 12 years; and defendant Pham Hoang Anh, former Deputy Party Secretary of Vinh Phuc province, was given 8 years. All the three were convicted of receiving bribes under Vietnam’s Penal Code.

In the same case, defendant Nguyen Van Hau, chairman of Phuc Son Group, was sentenced to a combined 30 years in prison for giving bribes; violating bidding regulations causing serious consequences; and violating accounting regulations causing serious consequences.

The court also issued suspended sentences ranging from 24 months to 8 years in prison for other defendants, including former officials from Phu Tho and Quang Ngai provinces.

Judges described the Phuc Son bribery case as “especially serious,” causing serious consequences to the State and negatively affecting Vietnam’s investment and business environment. According to the court, the defendants' actions violated tax, bidding, and accounting regulations, and sparked public anger and discontent due to their scale and impact.

The judges noted that while the defendants had different roles and committed different offences, their misconduct was interconnected.

“Each played a link in a chain,” the court said, stressing that strict punishment was necessary for those who acted against the interests of the State and the people.

Regarding mitigating circumstances, the court acknowledged positive attitudes and cooperation from several defendants, particularly Hau and several other members of the company.

The court also recognised that among the convicted were subordinate officials who acted under orders, played minor roles, had no personal gain or gained very little. In such cases, the court considered mitigating factors and applied sentences below the minimum statutory level, based on a balanced assessment of the defendants' actions and their overall contributions or circumstances.

Hau was accused by the Supreme People’s Procuracy of committing bribery by taking advantage of personal and professional relationships to give over VND132 billion to officials in former Vinh Phuc and Quang Ngai provinces (now Phu Tho and Kon Tum provinces, respectively).

Through bribery and personal lobbying, Phuc Son Group won multiple tenders in Vinh Phuc, Phu Tho, and Quang Ngai. After winning the contracts, Hau illegally directed the transfer of those projects to other entities, causing losses of more than VND459 billion to the State, a violation classified as violating bidding regulations causing serious consequences.

Hau also instructed his subordinates to operate two separate accounting systems, resulting in VND504 billion in tax losses to the State. This conduct was charged as violating accounting regulations causing serious consequences.

This case marks a significant milestone in Vietnam’s ongoing anti-corruption campaign, reflecting the government’s determination to crack down on abuse of power and corporate collusion at both provincial and national levels.

Phuc Son Group pays US$29.3 million to fully cover damages

Phuc Son Group on July 3 made an additional payment of VND768 billion (approximately US$29.3 million) to remedy damages in the criminal case involving its Chairman Nguyen Van Hau.