Bac Giang province Party chief arrested for abusing power

Duong Van Thai, Secretary of Bac Giang province's Party Committee, has been detained for abusing his positions and power while on duty.

Thai's arrest came as a result of the Ministry of Public Security's (MoIT) investigation into a case involving bidding violations and bribery at Hanoi-based Thuan An Group JSC and related units, ministry spokesperson Lieutenant General To An Xo said at the government’s regular press meeting on Saturday.

Legal proceedings against Thai were launched by the ministry’s investigative agency on May 1, Xo stated.

Thai, 54, used to be head of the tax department of Bac Giang township; vice chairman and chairman of Bac Giang town; and vice chairman and chairman of Bac Giang province. He has served as chief of the provincial Party Committee since October 2020.

Before his arrest, Thai was a member of the 15th National Assembly - the country's highest legislative body - and head of Bac Giang province’s parliament delegation.

On May 2, the National Assembly removed Thai from the legislature at an extraordinary session.

Related to this case, in late April, deputy head of Vietnam's National Assembly Office and assistant to the National Assembly Chairman Pham Thai Ha was arrested for abusing his positions and power to influence others for personal gains.

On April 15, Nguyen Duy Hung, chairman of Thuan An Group, was detained for “violating bidding regulations causing serious consequences” and “bribing”. Tran Anh Quang, general director of the group, was charged with “giving bribes”, while Nguyen Khac Man, deputy general director, was accused of “violating bidding regulations causing serious consequences”. and “bribery”.

Nguyen Van Thao, director of Bac Giang province’s management board for agricultural and transport investment projects, and his deputy, Dam Van Cuong, have been arrested for “violating bidding regulations causing serious consequences”, and “receiving bribes”.

Hoang The Du, head of a division at the management board, has been charged with “violating bidding regulations, causing serious consequences”.

Thuan An Group, formerly known as Thuan An Trading and Construction Development JSC, was established on August 4, 2004, headquartered at 141 Truong Chinh street, Hanoi. As of December 7, 2021, the company's charter capital was VND800 billion ($32 million), with nearly 32% held by chairman Nguyen Duy Hung.

Thuan An Group is a prominent name in the infrastructure construction market. Forming partnerships with other units, it has won a series of large construction contracts in provinces and cities across the country. It has bidded for 51 packages and won 39 of them with a total value of more than VND22.6 trillion ($890.8 million).

In Bac Giang, the group joined a consortium to build Dong Viet bridge in Yen Dung district. The VND1.5 trillion ($59 million) project was invested by the provincial management board for agricultural and transport investment projects.