Hanoi's former leader prosecuted for illegal interference into bidding activities

Former Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Nguyen Duc Chung. (Photo: VNA) 

Hanoi (VNA) – The Supreme People’s Procuracy issued an indictment and launched criminal proceedings against former Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung on charge of “abusing position and power while performing duties” in the case related to the municipal Department of Planning and Investment and relevant units.

The case is under the supervision and direction of the Central Steering Committee for Anti-corruption.

Other defendants in the case were also prosecuted, including former Chief of the Office of the municipal Party Committee and former Director of the municipal Department of Planning and Investment Nguyen Van Tu; former Director of the municipal Department of Planning and Investment Nguyen Tien Hoc; former head of the business registration office under the municipal Department of Planning and Investment Pham Thi Kim Tuyen; and former Chief of the Office of the municipal Department of Planning and Investment Pham Thi Thu Huong.

Director of the Dong Kinh Development and Investment Co. Ltd. Vo Viet Hung, and Business Director of the Dong Kinh Development and Investment Co. Ltd. Le Duy Tuan were prosecuted for violating bidding regulations, causing serious consequences.

General Director of the Nhat Cuong Technic Co., Ltd. Bui Quang Huy, who was the mastermind in the case related to the Nhat Cuong – Dong Kinh joint venture, has fled and been on the wanted list.

According to the indictment, Chung abused his position and power to illegally interfere in bidding activities for the package deal on digitization of business registration documents in 2016 at the municipal Department of Planning and Investment.

Later, he asked the department to allow the Nhat Cuong company to pilot digitalisation of the bidding package for the personal purpose of making the company win the bid and enjoy benefits, causing the loss of over 26.5 billion VND (1.16 million USD) to the State budget.

Notably, Minh Hoa company led by Nguyen Thi Truc Chi Hoa, Chung’s spouse, signed a contract with the Nhat Cuong company to enable the Nhat Cuong – Dong Kinh joint venture to validate its bidding dossier and win the bid.

In December 2020, Chung was sentenced to five years in prison for “appropriating State secret documents” in the case related to the Nhat Cuong company./.