Seizing Hundreds of Billions of Dong and Over 1,000 Land Use Right Certificates Related to the Phuc Son, Thuan An Case

On August 14, at a press conference held to communicate the results of the 26th meeting of the Central Steering Committee for Corruption and Negative Phenomenon Prevention and Control, the media raised questions regarding the progress of the investigation into the case related to Phuc Son Joint Stock Group and Thuan An, which have been under the Committee’s supervision and guidance since the end of May 2024. They also inquired about the potential expansion of the investigation related to Van Thinh Phat Group (phase 1).

Responding to these queries, Brigadier General Hoang Anh Tuyen, Deputy Chief of the Office and Spokesperson of the Ministry of Public Security, affirmed that the Ministry’s investigation agency is highly focused on expediting the progress of these two cases.

Regarding the Thuan An case, which was initiated on April 1, 2024, the Ministry’s Investigation Agency has prosecuted eight defendants so far.

“The Ministry’s Investigation Agency is currently working to clarify signs of wrongdoing in the bidding and implementation of Thuan An Group’s projects. They are also concentrating their forces on expanding the investigation, thoroughly recovering state assets, and strictly handling violations,” said Mr. Hoang Anh Tuyen.

According to the spokesperson, during the investigation process, the defendants admitted their wrongdoing and voluntarily surrendered or helped persuade their families to compensate for the damage caused. So far, the authorities have seized VND 62 billion and USD 40,000 related to the violations of the defendants and related individuals.

Brigadier General Hoang Anh Tuyen also shared that the Steering Committee has not set a deadline for completing the case, but the investigation agency aims to conclude it as soon as possible.

As for the Phuc Son case, which was initiated on February 26, 2024, 23 defendants have been prosecuted so far for investigation and clarification of their violations. “This is an extremely complex case involving many localities and a large volume of information and documents,” said Mr. Tuyen.

In terms of asset recovery, the investigation agency has seized over VND 300 billion, nearly 2 million USD, more than 500 gold bars, and over 1,000 land-use right certificates.

Currently, the agency is consolidating documents and evidence while expanding the investigation to recover lost and appropriated assets and clarify the violations of some defendants and related individuals.

Mr. Tuyen noted that the Steering Committee has not set a deadline for the conclusion of this case either, but the investigation agency is focusing its forces on completing it promptly.

Concerning the expansion of the investigation related to Van Thinh Phat Group, the spokesperson shared that the Ho Chi Minh City High-Level People’s Court is preparing for the appellate trial of phase 1 of the case.

At the conclusion of phase 1, the Ministry’s Investigation Agency continued to expand the investigation. To date, they have issued investigation conclusions and proposed the prosecution of 34 defendants for offenses of fraud, appropriation, money laundering, and illegal cross-border transfer of money.

Thus, the case has been expanded, and phase 2 has been completed.

Additionally, the Investigation Agency is also investigating, in accordance with the law, the case of Bribery, Abuse of Position and Power while performing official duties that occurred in Lam Dong province and other localities.

“This is an expansion of the case that occurred at Van Thinh Phat and SCB. In this case, the Investigation Agency has prosecuted nine defendants,” added Mr. Tuyen.

Resolving the cases related to Phuc Son and Thuan An conclusively

Previously, regarding the Phuc Son case, Mr. Nguyen Huu Dong, Deputy Head of the Central Internal Affairs Commission, shared that among the 23 prosecuted defendants, six are cadres under the Central Committee’s management, including one Secretary, one former Secretary, one Permanent Vice Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, two Chairpersons, and one former Chairperson of the Provincial People’s Committee.

In the Thuan An case, out of the eight prosecuted defendants, two are cadres under the Central Committee’s management, including one Provincial Party Committee Secretary and one Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Office.

Concerning the Van Thinh Phat case, Mr. Dong mentioned that, for the first time, the death penalty was imposed on a private enterprise owner for embezzlement. In addition, four defendants received life sentences, and among those sentenced to prison terms, 17 were given suspended sentences.

According to Mr. Nguyen Huu Dong, the Central Steering Committee has requested to expedite the progress of verification and investigation to clarify acts of corruption and appropriation in cases and matters with signs of corruption and economic violations. They have also emphasized the need to resolve conclusively the prosecuted cases, especially those related to Thuan An, Phuc Son, and Van Thinh Phat Groups, as well as cases and matters related to the personnel of party congresses at all levels.

The Committee has also stressed the urgency of completing conclusions of inspections and audits of specific subjects and matters as directed by the Steering Committee, such as the case at AIC Company, Thuan An Group, and Phuc Son Group.