The journey to uncover the bribery case involving over 30 billion VND at the Department of Education and Training of Quang Ninh province.

The Investigation Police Department of the Ministry of Public Security has just completed its investigation into the case of bidding violations and bribery that occurred at the Department of Education and Training of Quang Ninh province and some related units.

In addition to the bidding irregularities that caused losses exceeding 80 billion VND, the investigating agency also determined that the defendant Hoang Thi Thuy Nga, Chairman of NSJ Company, spent over 30 billion VND to thank three former officials of the Quang Ninh Department of Education and Training, including Vu Lien Oanh, former Director; Ngo Vui, former Head of Planning and Finance Department; and Ha Huy Long, former Deputy Head of Planning and Finance Department.

The defendants Vu Lien Oanh (left), former Director of the Department of Education and Training of Quang Ninh province, and Hoang Thi Thuy Nga, Chairman of NSJ Company.

Notably, the giving and receiving of money was clarified in the initial investigation report in February 2023. However, at that time, the four defendants were only recommended for prosecution for violating bidding regulations causing serious consequences.

In April 2023, the Supreme People's Procuracy issued a decision to return the case file, requesting further investigation into three aspects, including strengthening the case file and considering prosecuting this group for bribery. Two months later, the Police Investigation Agency of the Ministry of Public Security issued a decision to initiate additional prosecution; to date, they have proposed prosecuting four defendants for additional charges: Ms. Nga for bribery, and Ms. Oanh, Mr. Vui, and Mr. Long for receiving bribes.

The recipient says yes, the giver says no.

According to the findings, from 2016 to 2019, defendant Hoang Thi Thuy Nga repeatedly bribed defendant Vu Lien Oanh with 14 billion VND, defendant Ngo Vui with 14.8 billion VND, and defendant Ha Huy Long with 1.855 billion VND. These bribes typically occurred at the end of the year, after NSJ Company had successfully secured the contracts.

Statistics show that bribery largely takes place right in the offices of former education officials in Quang Ninh province. The misconduct has been ongoing for many years, from their time in office until after retirement, a prime example being former Director Vu Lien Oanh.

There is something strange about this case, evident throughout both the initial investigation report and the recently issued supplementary report: the contradictory statements between the group of defendants who received the money and the defendants who gave the money.

The three defendants, Oanh, Vui, and Long, all admitted to receiving money from defendant Nga. Specifically, Ms. Oanh received money four times, totaling 14 billion VND; Mr. Vui received money five times, totaling 14.8 billion VND; and Mr. Long received money five times, totaling 1.855 billion VND. To date, defendants Vui and Long have returned all the illegally obtained money. Defendant Oanh also expressed a desire to return the money, but her family has not yet done so.

The two defendants are Ngo Vui and Ha Huy Long.

Typically, in bribery cases, denial of guilt usually occurs on the part of the accused who received the money. However, the case at the Quang Ninh Provincial Department of Education and Training is the opposite. While the group of former officials all pleaded guilty, the accused bribe-giver, Hoang Thi Thuy Nga, vehemently denied the charges.

From the initial investigation phase to the supplementary investigation phase, the Chairman of NSJ Company maintained his statement that there was no giving of money to the three defendants Oanh, Vui, and Long. He also stated that there was no exchange, discussion, or agreement between the two parties regarding the giving of money.

A series of incriminating evidence against the female chairperson.

Because the defendant Hoang Thi Thuy Nga did not admit to the act, the Police Investigation Agency based its investigation on the confessions of those allegedly receiving bribes, including Vu Lien Oanh, Ngo Vui, and Ha Huy Long. This was in addition to the statements of related individuals such as Nga's driver and secretary, an employee of NSJ Company, and Vui's daughter…

Specifically, the investigating agency also verified and collected documents at the Anti-Money Laundering Department under the State Bank of Vietnam's Inspection and Supervision Agency. The results of examining data from NSJ Company's account showed that before the Lunar New Year from 2016 to 2020, many large sums of money were withdrawn by company employees, consistent with the time when the suspect Nga met with and disbursed money to former officials of the Quang Ninh Provincial Department of Education and Training.

Defendant Hoang Thi Thuy Nga is being prosecuted in four cases for violating bidding regulations.

In addition, investigators also seized call records of incoming and outgoing calls to the defendants' phone numbers. A review of mobile phone data revealed that Ms. Nga had been in Ha Long City (Quang Ninh) multiple times and had contact with defendants Oanh, Vui, and Long; this matches the time frame in which the two met and exchanged money.

Another point mentioned is that during the confrontation, all four defendants maintained their original statements. Defendants Oanh, Vui, and Long even drew a diagram identifying the location where the money was hidden, the location of the money bags, and the location of defendant Nga when she brought the money as a thank-you gift… This process was witnessed by lawyers and prosecutors.

Therefore, despite pleading not guilty, Ms. Nga was still recommended for prosecution for bribery. The Chairman of NSJ Company and former Director of the Department of Education and Training of Quang Ninh province, Vu Lien Oanh, were identified as the masterminds and ringleaders. Ms. Nga, in particular, "has not shown remorse, so serious action should be considered to ensure deterrence and prevent similar crimes in the future."

Quick overview at 8 PM: News summary for June 17th

Female entrepreneur and a series of major bidding scandals.

In addition to the case in Quang Ninh, NSJ Company Chairwoman Hoang Thi Thuy Nga is also being prosecuted in three other cases, all for violating bidding regulations and causing serious consequences.

In Dong Nai, Ms. Nga was sentenced to 12 years in prison on charges of wrongdoing along with Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Nhan, former Chairwoman of Tien Bo Quoc Te Joint Stock Company, causing losses of over 148 billion VND in the construction project of Dong Nai Provincial General Hospital.

In Can Tho City, Ms. Nga was sentenced to 8 years in prison on charges of colluding with leaders of the Can Tho Department of Health, causing losses of approximately 33 billion VND in 4 procurement packages for medical equipment for hospitals in the area.

In Tay Ninh, Ms. Nga is accused of violating regulations on ensuring fairness and transparency in bidding activities, causing serious consequences. Nine defendants have been prosecuted, including Ms. Nga and former Director of the Tay Ninh Department of Health, Hoa Cong Hau.

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/hanh-trinh-phanh-phui-vu-hoi-lo-hon-30-ti-tai-so-gd-dt-tinh-quang-ninh-185230618081740462.htm