The Ministry’s Investigation Agency is currently probing a criminal case involving “Violations of bidding regulations causing serious consequences; Bribery; and Taking bribes” connected to Cong Minh Greenery Co., Ltd. and its related entities across various provinces and cities.

The warrant for Minh (born 1972, originally from Ha Tinh, with permanent residence in the former Binh Phuoc province) was issued as part of a broader investigation into large-scale corruption and fraud.

Authorities urge Nguyen Cong Minh to surrender in order to be eligible for leniency under the law.

Preliminary investigations reveal that Cong Minh Greenery colluded with project investors during the early stages of tender planning, including the price-setting phase.

After official approval, the company would be awarded contracts directly or submit bids through one of its many affiliate companies, all under the Cong Minh Group umbrella.

The investigation found that the Cong Minh system operated more than 40 subsidiary companies in a parent-child model. While legally independent entities, they were functionally managed as a single corporate ecosystem.

These entities were used to rotate bids and guarantee successful tenders under various names.

To date, investigators estimate the defendants have caused approximately 100 billion VND (around USD 4 million) in damages to the state.

The Ministry of Public Security reports that Cong Minh Greenery has secured over 600 public procurement packages nationwide, with a total project value exceeding 3,500 billion VND (around USD 143 million). Payments disbursed to date amount to approximately 3,000 billion VND (around USD 123 million).

Authorities have requested local governments and businesses to provide documents and evidence to help clarify the roles and responsibilities of all involved parties.

Established in 1993, Cong Minh Greenery began as a nursery and urban greenery business in Dong Nai province before relocating to Phuoc Long - Song Be (now part of Binh Phuoc province).

By 1999, the company had expanded operations to include ornamental plants and urban landscape projects in Dong Xoai City, Binh Phuoc.

Since 2006, it has diversified into drainage, pavement, lighting, and concrete surface construction. Its projects have steadily grown in both scope and value over the years.

A VietNamNet investigation highlights several major tenders the company won:

In June 2022, in Thu Duc City (Ho Chi Minh City), the Urban Management Office awarded a greenery maintenance contract worth over 64 billion VND (USD 2.6 million). A consortium including Cong Minh and two other firms won the bid for over 51.7 billion VND (USD 2.1 million).

In July 2022, the same office approved a drainage dredging project worth nearly 94.8 billion VND (USD 3.87 million). Cong Minh’s consortium won with a bid of 92.9 billion VND (USD 3.79 million).

In April 2022, in Long An province, a street lighting project valued at 10.1 billion VND (USD 412,000) was awarded to Cong Minh in partnership with Thien Minh Lighting.

In March 2021, Binh Duong’s provincial administration center awarded a 9.45 billion VND (USD 385,000) contract to Cong Minh and Duy Tan Construction.

In January 2022, Dong Xoai City (Binh Phuoc) selected Cong Minh for a 24.68 billion VND (USD 1 million) project to maintain urban trees and grasslands.

In January 2020, Phu Rieng district awarded a 6.13 billion VND (USD 250,000) park infrastructure project to a consortium led by Cong Minh.

In Dak Nong, the company secured multiple greenery maintenance contracts. One joint project with Nghia Ha Construction involved street cleaning, drainage, and public lighting worth over 1.7 billion VND (USD 69,000), while another lighting operation contract in 2021-2022 was worth 2.8 billion VND (USD 114,000).

Independently, Cong Minh won an 8 billion VND (USD 326,000) bid in 2018 for building a central flower park in Dak Mam (Krông Nô district), and another 6 billion VND (USD 245,000) contract for a flower park near the border guard overpass on National Highway 14, Gia Nghia town.

Authorities believe the company’s "tender dominance" was made possible by its vast web of affiliate companies acting as bid placeholders, allowing it to manipulate the procurement system to its advantage.

Hanh Nguyen