Appeals court reduces sentences in Phuc Son Group case

The defendants at the trial on December 22 (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – The appellate court on December 22 accepted appeals by defendants in the case involving Phuc Son Group and several localities seeking reduced sentences, with some prison terms converted into suspended sentences.

Hoang Thi Thuy Lan, former Secretary of the Party Committee of Vinh Phuc province (before its merger with Phu Tho and Hoa Binh), had her prison sentence reduced from 14 years to 11 years and six months. Former Chairman of the Vinh Phuc provincial People’s Committee Le Duy Thanh will serve eight years and six months in prison, down from 12 years previously. The appellate court also reduced the jail term of Pham Hoang Anh, former Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Vinh Phuc provincial Party Committee, from eight years to six years. They were all convicted of taking bribes.

The court further converted prison terms of three years into three-year suspended sentences for Pham Van Vong, former Secretary of the Vinh Phuc provincial Party Committee; Phung Quang Hung, former Chairman of the Vinh Phuc provincial People’s Committee; and Ha Hoa Binh, former Vice Chairman of the Vinh Phuc provincial People’s Committee.

Notably, Le Viet Chu, former Secretary of the Party Committee of Quang Ngai province (before its merger with Kon Tum), and several former officials of the former Quang Ngai province, despite not lodging appeals, also had their sentences reduced after the appellate court determined that all consequences of the case had been fully remedied and the defendants’ contributions and performance during their careers. Chu will spend two years in prison in stead of seven years previously.

According to the trial panel, former leaders and officials of the Party Committees and People’s Committees of the former Vinh Phuc, Phu Tho and Quang Ngai provinces committed multiple violations by creating conditions for Phuc Son Group to win bidding packages in breach of regulations, causing losses of hundreds of billions of dong. Several defendants were also found to have received large bribes.

The court noted that the defendants were first-time offenders with good personal records, had made significant contributions during their careers, and had received numerous commendations and State recognition. They showed remorse, made honest declarations and actively remedied the consequences of the case.
To date, all damage caused by the case has been fully compensated.

Earlier, on July 11, the Hanoi People’s Court issued verdicts against 41 defendants in a major corruption case involving real estate firm Phuc Son Group JSC and senior former provincial officials.

Nguyen Van Hau, Chairman and CEO of Phuc Son Group, was convicted of giving bribes and violating bidding and accounting regulations, causing serious consequences. He received a combined prison sentence of 30 years—14 years for bribery, nine years for bidding violations and seven years for accounting irregularities.

According to the court, Hau used bribes to gain unlawful advantages for his companies, Phuc Son Group and Thang Long Company, particularly in projects across the former Vinh Phuc and Quang Ngai provinces.

The court found that Lan accepted nearly 48 billion VND (1.83 million USD) and Thanh received 50 billion VND from Hau in exchange for directing or approving decisions that favoured his companies, including extending project deadlines, illegally awarding land without public bidding and bypassing zoning regulations.

Another group of eight defendants, including former provincial leaders from Vinh Phuc and Phu Tho, were convicted of abuse of power while performing official duties.

The court concluded that senior officials in Vinh Phuc and Quang Ngai abused their authority in exchange for bribes, enabling Phuc Son Group and Thang Long Company to gain unlawful advantages in a range of state-funded construction and urban development projects./.

VNA