On October 23, the Supreme People's Procuracy completed its indictment, prosecuting 17 defendants in the second phase of the rescue flight case. The prosecution charged Tran Tung (former Deputy Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs of Thai Nguyen Province) with accepting bribes and abuse of power while performing official duties.

The defendants charged with Accepting Bribes include: Tran Thi Quyen (born 1986, Director of Sen Vang Dat Viet Company), Le Thi Phuong (official at the Office of the People’s Committee of Hai Duong Province), Nguyen Van Van (former Deputy Director of the Department of Health of Quang Nam Province), Le Ngoc Tuong (former Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of Quang Nam Province), and Nguyen Manh Truong (official at the Aviation Transport Department, Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, Ministry of Transport).

The defendants charged with Offering Bribes include: Vu Hong Quang (former Deputy Head of the Aviation Transport Department, Civil Aviation Authority, Ministry of Transport), Tran Thanh Nha (freelancer), Vu Hoang Dung (freelancer), Nguyen Manh Cuong (Head of E-commerce Department, Vietjet Air Joint Stock Company), Dang Nhat Duc (Director of Top Agent Japan Co., Ltd.), Bui Dang Khoa (Director of World Travel Co., Ltd.), Truong Thi My Dung (Director of Anh Sao Thien Travel Services Co., Ltd.), Pham Quoc Thang (Director of PNR Company), Tran Minh Phung (Director of Gia Huy Travel, Trade, and Construction Co., Ltd.), and Tran Thi Ngan (Chairwoman of the Board, Ana Travel Services Co., Ltd.).

In addition, Nguyen Xuan Thong is being prosecuted for Concealing Criminal Activities.

According to the indictment, when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out and escalated, the government directed the organization of rescue flights to bring Vietnamese citizens back home to combat the pandemic. The government assigned the Office of the Government, the task force of various ministries, and local authorities to handle the licensing procedures for the flights and establish quarantine protocols.

Taking advantage of the government’s directives and their roles, some individuals at the provincial and city People's Committees negotiated to offer or accept bribes.

The indictment states that the defendants violated their duties by advising and proposing approvals for enterprises to bring citizens back for quarantine in local areas. They directly or through intermediaries colluded and negotiated with officials from the Ministry of Health to offer or accept bribes in exchange for approvals for charter flights.

Some defendants exploited their positions to guide and incite others to provide false statements, conceal criminal activities, and obstruct the investigation by authorities.

The indictment revealed that Tran Tung accepted bribes on three occasions, totaling over 4.4 billion VND. Additionally, Tung abused his position while performing official duties to advise and propose to the People’s Committee of Thai Nguyen Province on organizing seven flights for Mrs. Bui Thi Kim Phung. Through these actions, Tung received over 3.2 billion VND in illicit gains.

Defendant Tran Thi Quyen assisted Tung in receiving bribes totaling over 4.4 billion VND, from which she gained 300 million VND. Other defendants, including Le Thi Phuong, received 650 million VND, Nguyen Van Van 450 million VND, Le Ngoc Tuong 400 million VND, and Nguyen Manh Truong 244 million VND.

Defendant Vu Hong Quang is accused of offering over 7.4 billion VND in bribes to Pham Trung Kien to obtain approval permits for 624 citizens to return on charter flights, from which he gained over 19.9 billion VND.

Defendant Tran Thanh Nha offered over 7.3 billion VND in bribes to Mr. Kien to obtain approval permits for 461 citizens to return on charter flights, earning over 8.2 billion VND.

T. Nhung