Former Minister Mai Tien Dung to be tried soon

According to the decision of the Hanoi People's Court, on the morning of January 16, 2025, the case of bribery, bribery acceptance, and abuse of position and power while performing official duties occurring in Lam Dong province and some related localities will be brought to trial in the first instance procedure.

The trial is expected to last 5 days (including holidays). Judge Tran Nam Ha presided over the trial. Representatives of the Hanoi People's Procuracy attended the trial with prosecutors including: Ms. Dang Thi Hong Thuy, Nguyen Thi Thanh Tuyen; Mr. Nguyen Van Dong, Nguyen Huy Khanh, Do Duong Toan and Le Tuan Anh.

Previously, the Supreme People's Procuracy completed the indictment against 10 defendants in the case. Accordingly, defendants Mai Tien Dung (former Minister, Head of the Government Office), Nguyen Hong Giang (former Director of the Department of Inspection and Complaints and Denunciations, Region 2, Government Inspectorate), Tran Bich Ngoc (former Director of the Department of Monitoring Inspection Work; Complaints and Denunciations; Anti-Corruption, Smuggling, Trade Fraud and Counterfeit Goods, Government Office) were prosecuted for the crime of abusing position and power while performing official duties.

In connection with the case, Mr. Nguyen Cao Tri (General Director of Saigon Dai Ninh Company) was prosecuted for bribery.

There are 6 defendants prosecuted for bribery, including: Mr. Tran Duc Quan (former Secretary of Lam Dong Provincial Party Committee), Tran Van Hiep (former Chairman of Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee), Le Quoc Khanh (former Deputy Director of the Department of Inspection for Complaints and Denunciations, Region 2, Government Inspectorate), Hoang Van Xuan, Nguyen Nho Dinh (both former chief inspectors of Department II, Government Inspectorate) and Nguyen Ngoc Anh (former chief inspector, Chief Inspector of Lam Dong province).

According to the accusation, although Mr. Mai Tien Dung was not in charge of the inspection and handling of petitions, due to his relationship and acquaintance with Mr. Nguyen Cao Tri, he received the petition of Saigon Dai Ninh Company from Mr. Tri; wrote comments and directed subordinates to consult, ask for opinions and convey the opinions of leaders on transferring the petition..., contrary to the law.

During the implementation process, Mr. Mai Tien Dung was given 200 million VND by Mr. Tri.

The accusation also pointed out that, after agreeing to buy back the Dai Ninh Project, Mr. Nguyen Cao Tri used money and relationships to influence defendants in the Government Office and the Government Inspectorate; colluded, agreed, bribed, and manipulated defendants in the Government Inspectorate and the Lam Dong Provincial Party Committee and People's Committee so that the defendants could take advantage of their assigned positions and powers to commit acts contrary to their official duties and tasks.

This helped Mr. Tri change inspection conclusion No. 929 from "terminating operations and reclaiming project land" to "not reclaiming, extending progress and continuing project implementation", causing particularly serious consequences.

The indictment determined that Mr. Nguyen Cao Tri had repeatedly given bribes totaling VND 7.5 billion to defendants at the Government Inspectorate, the Provincial Party Committee, and the People's Committee of Lam Dong Province related to the Dai Ninh Project so that they could commit violations, helping Tri achieve his goal of changing the investigation conclusion.

Mr. Tri gave a total of 750 million VND to the defendants who were members of the Working Group; colluded and conspired to make the Working Group report in the direction of accepting the petition of Saigon Dai Ninh Company based on valid documents on financial capacity provided by Mr. Tri...

In addition, Mr. Tri gave a total of 2.1 billion VND 5 times to Mr. Tran Duc Quan (former Secretary of Lam Dong Provincial Party Committee); 7 times gave a total of 4.2 billion VND to Mr. Tran Van Hiep (former Chairman of Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee).

According to the Supreme People's Procuracy, the defendants' actions in the case caused particularly serious consequences and need to be strictly handled according to the provisions of the law.