Representatives of the Hanoi People’s Procuracy has recommended penalty for 23 defendants on charges including bribery, bidding violations, and accounting offences linked to Hoang Dan Investment and Construction One Member Co., Ltd., including a prison sentence of 4-5 years for former Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD - now Ministry of Agriculture and Environment) Hoang Van Thang on the charge of receiving bribes under Article 354 of the Penal Code.

At the first-instance trial for the case on April 1, prosecutors proposed 15–16 years in prison for Tran Van Lang, former Director of Project Management Unit No. 2; 7–8 years for Tran To Nghi, former Acting Director General of the MARD’s Construction Management Department; 5–6 years for Nguyen Hai Thanh, former Deputy Director General of the Construction Management Department and Director of Project Management Unit No. 4 (currently at large and tried in absentia); and 4–5 years for Le Van Hien, former Director of Project Management Unit No. 8.

Nguyen Van Dan, Director of the Hoang Dan Company, was proposed cumulative sentences of 13–16 years in prison for offering bribes, violating bidding regulations, causing serious consequences, and violating accounting violations regulations, causing serious consequences.

Other defendants face proposed sentences ranging from suspended terms of 30 months to seven years’ imprisonment for bidding and accounting violations.

According to the indictment, the defendants’ actions posed serious risks to society, undermined economic management order, distorted financial information, affected tax supervision, and eroded investor and public confidence. Prosecutors therefore stressed the need for penalties proportionate to the severity of the offences.

During questioning, Dan and other defendants admitted their wrongdoing. Their testimonies were consistent with investigation documents, expert conclusions, and seized evidence, providing sufficient grounds for prosecution. Although Thanh remains wanted, prosecutors said available evidence adequately proves his criminal conduct.

Prosecutors grouped the offences into four categories: bribery, bribe-taking, violations of bidding regulations, and accounting violations.

Investigators determined that, in order to secure irrigation construction contracts managed by project units under the ministry, Dan exploited personal relationships with Thang and Nghi to influence project leaders.

Dan allegedly agreed to pay commissions to ministry and project unit leaders in exchange for access to approved cost estimates, enabling Hoang Dan Company to prepare competitive financial proposals and win five bidding packages across four reservoir projects, including Krong Pach Thuong (Dak Lak), Ban Mong (Nghe An), Ban Lai (Lang Son), and Canh Tang (Hoa Binh).

Authorities concluded that Dan paid more than 40 billion VND (1.51 million USD) in bribes to facilitate participation and victory in the bids, causing state losses exceeding 251 billion VND.

Prosecutors stated that Thang, while serving as MARD Deputy Minister, accepted 200,000 USD (equivalent to 4.54 billion VND) from Dan and directed subordinates to facilitate the Hoang Dan Company’s victory in a bidding package under the Ban Mong Reservoir Project, causing state losses of more than 51 billion VND.

Nghi was accused of coordinating with Hien to help the company secure two bidding packages under the Krong Pach Thuong Reservoir Project, resulting in losses exceeding 72 billion VND, and instructing subordinates to assist the company in winning another package in the Ban Mong project. Prosecutors determined that Nghi received 13 billion VND in bribes./.VNA