Former Director of Binh Thuan Department of Education and Training was arrested

On the afternoon of January 10, Mr. Thai was temporarily detained by Binh Thuan police for his behavior.Violations of bidding regulations cause serious consequencesas prescribed in Clause 3, Article 222 of the Penal Code. The police searched Mr. Thai's private home in Phan Thiet City.

As an accomplice, Mr. Bui Dinh Thoa (former head of the Planning and Finance Department) was also temporarily detained; Nguyen Ngoc Cuong (an employee of the Planning and Finance Department of the Department of Education and Training) was released on bail due to a serious illness. Nguyen Hong Son (Deputy General Director of AIC Company, residing in Hanoi) is wanted by the Ministry of Public Security.

The investigation agency determined that Mr. Thai and individuals at the Binh Thuan Department of Education and Training took advantage of their positions and powers to collude with individuals at AIC Company, edit bidding documents, illegally intervene in bidding activities, creating conditions for this unit to win 3 bidding packages in 2016 and 2017.

Previously, in July, Binh Thuan Police initiated an investigation into 3 bidding packages invested by Binh Thuan Department of Education and Training, won by AIC Company. Of which, the bidding package for purchasing classroom equipment in 2016 was worth more than 12.4 billion VND; the bidding package for purchasing smart classroom equipment in 2017 was worth more than 12.6 billion VND and the bidding package for purchasing smart classroom equipment for 10 secondary schools in new rural communes in 2017 was worth more than 2.1 billion VND.

Initially, the authorities determined that the above bidding documents did not meet the bidding documents but were still approved, inviting AIC Company to negotiate the contract in violation of regulations. The bidding package for purchasing smart classroom equipment for 10 schools did not have enough basis to determine the bidding package price according to regulations, but the Department still submitted the contractor selection plan for approval.

Random inspections at 26/131 schools showed that some of the equipment provided by AIC Company was not in accordance with the signed contract. Among them, there were testing and evaluation equipment originating from Singapore but in reality the origin was not stated or was of Chinese origin.

The police identified three bid packages with equipment prices provided to investors that were too high compared to the input purchase price of AIC Company (more than 100%) with a total amount of more than 15.4 billion VND (the winning bid price was more than 27.2 billion VND while the import price through customs and purchase was 11.8 billion VND). These equipment were purchased by AIC Company before winning the bid.

In addition, at the time of handover, the equipment was unusable; many schools no longer use this equipment due to damage or incompatibility with current lecture content and software.