Police seize $14M, 500 taels of gold and more in high-profile property corruption case

By Pham Du   June 1, 2024 | 08:40 pm PT
The Ministry of Public Security has seized nearly US$14 million, 500 taels of gold worth around $1.7 million, and over 1,000 land certificates from suspects involved in the corruption case at property group Phuc Son.

Police have launched investigations into 23 individuals and are consolidating documents and evidence to recover lost and embezzled assets, Major General Hoang Anh Tuyen, the ministry’s Deputy Chief of Office, said on Saturday.

The case at Phuc Son, a construction and real estate company based in the north, began in February with the arrest of chairman Nguyen Van Hau.

Over the past three months, several officials have been arrested. Among them were four high-ranking leaders in Vinh Phuc - former provincial Party chief Hoang Thi Thuy Lan, former permanent deputy Party chief Pham Hoang Anh, former provincial chairman Le Duy Thanh, and former deputy chairman Nguyen Van Khuoc.

Police block a villa owned by Cao Khoa, former chairman of Quang Ngai Province, in Quang Ngai City, the provinces capital, for inspection, March 8, 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Pham Linh

Police block a villa owned by Cao Khoa, former chairman of Quang Ngai Province, in Quang Ngai City, the province's capital, for inspection, March 8, 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Pham Linh

They are under investigation on charges of receiving bribes.

In Quang Ngai, Provincial Chairman Dang Van Minh, former chairman Cao Khoa and former Party chief Le Viet Chu, along with many subordinates, were put on charges of receiving bribes or violating regulations on bidding with serious consequences.

The Ministry of Public Security assesses the case at Phuc Son as a new type of crime with tactics exploiting close relationships with high-ranking officials to impact and influence grassroots officials for personal gain.

Related to the case of Hanoi-based Thuan An Corporation, Tuyen reported that eight suspects have been prosecuted, and more than VND40 billion has been recovered, with further investigations underway.

This case and the Phuc Son case have now been included in the supervision and directive scope of the Central Steering Committee on Anti-Corruption.

Police began a probe into Thuan An on April 15, arresting its chairman Nguyen Duy Hung for "violating regulations on bidding causing serious consequences" and "giving bribes."

Related to the case, Pham Thai Ha, Deputy Head of the National Assembly Office and assistant to former NA chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, was arrested on charges of exploiting his position and authority to influence others for personal gain.

Three weeks ago, police detained Duong Van Thai, Party chief of the northern Bac Giang Province, on charges of exploiting his position and authority while performing official duties related to the case.

 
 
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