How did Mr. Mai Tien Dung help Nguyen Cao Tri?

The Investigation Police Department of the Ministry of Public Security has just completed its investigation into the case of bribery, receiving bribes, and abuse of power and authority while performing official duties that occurred in Lam Dong province and some related localities.

In this case, Mr. Mai Tien Dung, former Minister and Head of the Government Office, is recommended for prosecution for the crime of abusing his position and authority while performing his official duties.

According to the investigation's conclusions, Mr. Mai Tien Dung stated that Nguyen Cao Tri was a businessman. In 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, Mr. Tri collaborated with the government in the fight against the pandemic, donating ventilators and medical supplies, so the two became acquainted and occasionally met and talked.

At noon on October 4, 2020, Nguyen Cao Tri made an appointment and then went to meet Mr. Mai Tien Dung at Mr. Dung's office in the Government Office.

After discussing the COVID-19 pandemic and the provision of ventilators, Mr. Tri presented a petition from Saigon Dai Ninh Company requesting an extension and postponement of the Dai Ninh project's progress, and asked Mr. Dung to report this to the Government leaders so they could direct the petition to be forwarded to the Government Inspectorate for resolution.

The defendant Tri then asserted that he had reported and proposed this matter and received support from Mr. Dung's "superiors." Therefore, Mr. Mai Tien Dung instructed his subordinates to carry out Tri's proposal.

Subsequently, since the application from Saigon Dai Ninh Company remained unresolved by the Government Inspectorate, on January 16, 2021, Nguyen Cao Tri arranged to have breakfast with Mr. Dung at the 35 Hung Vuong Guest House (Hanoi).

At that time, Tri said he was instructed by Mr. Tran Van Minh, Deputy Chief Inspector of the Government (who passed away in March 2023), to continue sending a second petition to the Government Office and asked Mr. Dung to report and seek the opinion of the Standing Deputy Prime Minister with "stronger directives" for the Government Inspectorate to inspect, review, and resolve the issue. In this way, Mr. Minh would have grounds to form a team and resolve the issue so that the project could be revived.

Therefore, Mai Tien Dung wrote a note on the Saigon Dai Ninh Company's petition, instructing his subordinates to seek the opinion of the Deputy Prime Minister to forward the petition to the Government Inspectorate for resolution. The case was subsequently successful, with the Government Inspectorate issuing a conclusion that "shifted course" in favor of Nguyen Cao Tri.

The former minister's testimony revealed that he endorsed the petition to help Nguyen Cao Tri because he thought Tri had asked government leaders for help. Besides endorsed the petition, Mr. Dung did not sign any other documents because he was not assigned to oversee this area and did not have a decisive role in the Government Office's decision to forward the petition to the Government Inspectorate for resolution.

During the investigation so far, Mr. Mai Tien Dung has admitted to receiving 200 million VND as a thank-you gift from Mr. Tri. In addition, Mr. Tri also provided 380 million VND to purchase commemorative gifts (a tea set) for the Government Office's anniversary celebration.

According to the investigation's conclusions, Mr. Dung, in coordination with his family, returned 580 million VND to mitigate the damage.

Minh Tue

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/ong-mai-tien-dung-but-phe-don-duong-giup-nguyen-cao-tri-the-nao-ar905310.html