Nguyễn Tiến Học, former deputy director of Hà Nội Planning and Investment Department. —Photo courtesy of Ministry of Public Security

The accused are Nguyễn Tiến Học, former deputy director of Hà Nội Planning and Investment Department;  Phạm Thị Kim Tuyến, head of Business Registration Office of the Hà Nội Planning and Investment Department; and Lê Duy Tuấn, business manager of Đông Kinh Development and Investment Co Ltd.

They face the charge of "violating bidding regulations, causing serious consequences" under Article 222 of the 2015 Penal Code.

The Investigation Police Department also issued a supplementary decision to begin legal proceedings against Bùi Quang Huy, director general of Nhật Cường Technic Co Ltd, the parent company of a popular smartphone and mobile devices chain store Nhật Cường Mobile in Hà Nội, while he is wanted by police.

Previously, as reported, Bùi Quang Huy, born in 1974 in Hà Nội, together with eight other colleagues at the company, were charged with “smuggling” and “violations of accounting regulations, resulting in serious consequences” on May 14.

Detention orders against these people were issued, but Huy fled his residence.

On May 18, the Ministry of Public Security issued a nationwide wanted notice against him. Later in September, the ministry asked Interpol to assist in catching the man.

Earlier in November, the Central Steering Committee on Anti-corruption under the Politburo, chaired by General Secretary of the Việt Nam Communist Party Nguyễn Phú Trọng himself, has included Nhật Cường case under the list of major corruption cases to be closely followed. — VNS

Vietnam’s highest anti-corruption body eyes US$1.64bil highway project and Nhat Cuong Mobile case

The Standing Committee of the Central Steering Committee for Anti-Corruption has decided to keep an eye on the smuggling case related to giant mobile phone distributor Nhat Cuong and the $1.64 billion Da Nang - Quang Ngai highway project.