Infrastructure giant Phuc Son’s arrested chief ‘manipulated’ officials for personal gain: police

Hau is allegedly connected with Hoang Thi Thuy Lan, former Party secretary of Vinh Phuc Province, and Le Duy Thanh, its former chairman, who were arrested earlier this month to be questioned for receiving tens of billions of dong (VND10 billion = $404,000) in bribes.

They have turned in the alleged bribe money to the police.

Ministry of Public Security spokesperson To An Xo said that Hau took advantage of his personal relationships with people in power to manipulate them into giving orders to their subordinates enabling him to "derive illegal personal gains".

Major General Nguyen Van Thanh, deputy chief of the ministry’s department for investigating corruption, economic crimes and smuggling, told reporters Tuesday that Hau manipulated and brought pressure on some officials in Vinh Phuc Province.

His violations were dangerous and a "new type of crime" that caused loss of state assets and a bad reputation for the government, he added.

Hau is also accused of bribing Dang Trung Hoanh, chief of staff of Mang Thit District in the Mekong Delta province of Vinh Long, who took VND64 billion.

He was arrested on Feb. 26 to be investigated for violating accounting regulations and causing severe consequences.

Hau’s company Phuc Son has 21 projects worth VND40 trillion.

Preliminary investigations of two projects have showed that the company fudged figures to evade taxes worth VND640 billion.

Phuc Son mostly builds infrastructure.

Some others involved in the case have also been arrested for allegedly taking bribes, including current and former chairmen of Quang Ngai Province, Dang Van Minh and Cao Khoa.