Hanoi (VNA) – Nguyen Van Hau, Chairman of Phuc Son Group JSC, fully admitted all of the charges delivered by the procuracy agency, and asked for leniency at the June 26 hearing as part of the high-profile trial of 41 defendants involved in the corruption case related to the firm.

Hau, who is also Chairman of the Thang Long Investment, Trade and Real Estate JSC Company, testified that he founded the Phuc Son Group in 2004 and acquired the Thang Long Company in 2017. Following the acquisition, Hau took direct control of the company’s operations. His companies were involved in four projects and four bidding packages in Vinh Phuc, four in Phu Tho, and two in Quang Ngai.

He acknowledged that the indictment from the Supreme People's Procuracy, which charged him with three offences - violating accounting regulations, causing serious consequences; violating bidding regulations, causing serious consequences; and giving bribes – is accurate, fair, and correct. He also admitted to unlawfully gaining 1.16 trillion VND (44.37 million USD).

On the charge of giving bribes, Hau stated that he had voluntarily identified the recipient of the bribe and had confessed before the official launch of the investigation. He therefore requested an exemption from criminal liability.

Regarding financial restitution, both Hau and representatives of the Phuc Son Group pledged to fully compensate all damage caused by the case within four to five days, describing the timeline as entirely feasible before the court’s verdict.

According to the indictment, during the execution of various projects and procurement packages in the provinces of Vinh Phuc, Quang Ngai, and Phu Tho, Hau either personally committed, directed subordinates, or worked with partner entities to carry out unlawful activities related to bidding and accounting procedures.

Hau is accused of exploiting personal relations and using bribes and material incentives to conspire with State officials and consultants. This collusion allegedly allowed companies within the Phuc Son ecosystem to obtain contracts illegally, carry out projects, and gain illicit profits, resulting in significant losses to State assets.

Prosecutors alleged that Hau gave 25 billion VND and 1 million USD to Hoang Thi Thuy Lan, Ex-Secretary of the Party Committee of Vinh Phuc province, on three separate occasions. In return, Lan and other provincial officials allegedly abused their positions to intervene unlawfully in Hau’s favour.

ꦍ The cumulative misconduct by Hau and his accomplices caused extensive financial damage to the State, including over 504 billion VND (19.26 million USD) from accounting violations, 204 billion VND through unlawful land valuation adjustments, and 459 billion VND from bidding irregularities./