Former market management official gets 9-year imprisonment for accepting bribes

By Trang Nguyen, Bach Quang
Thu, July 27, 2023 | 4:24 pm GMT+7

The Hanoi People's Court sentenced Tran Hung, former deputy director of the General Department of Market Management, to nine years in prison Thursday for accepting a bribe of VND300 million ($12,700) in a scam involving “fake” textbooks.

The judges said that Hung, 61, had a "good background," but did not merit leniency because he did not confess to his crime. The court also ordered Hung to pay back the VND300 million bribe he was found guilty of accepting.

Tran Hung at court in Hanoi, July 27, 2023. Photo courtesy of Youth newspaper.

Tran Hung at court in Hanoi, July 27, 2023. Photo courtesy of Youth newspaper.

In the same case, Nguyen Duy Hai, a freelance worker, was sentenced to 27 months in prison for brokering bribes.

Three people from the Market Management Team No. 17, under the Ministry of Trade and Industry's General Department of Market Management, were also found guilty of abusing positions and power while performing their duties.

Le Viet Phuong, former deputy head of the team, received 30 months in prison. Pham Ngoc Hai got a 20-month suspended prison sentence and Thanh Thi Dong Phuong an 18-month suspended prison sentence.

Among the group of defendants accused of producing and trading in counterfeit goods, Cao Thi Minh Thuan, director of the Phu Hung Phat Company, was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Thuan had sold more than six million “fake” textbooks to make illegal profits of more than VND30 billion ($1.27 million). The court ordered her to pay more than VND8 billion ($338,000) to the state. Her accomplices were likewise ordered to pay nearly VND22 billion ($929,300) to the state.

As leader of the General Department of Market Management, Tran Hung was identified as having "position and authority" to check the fake textbooks produced by the Phu Hung Phat Company.

During the four-day trial, 35 of 36 defendants admitted to their actions and requested leniency in sentencing.

But Tran Hung insisted that he was innocent and asked that the judges release him. He said the prosecution was completely wrong in accusing him of accepting bribes. Instead, he should have been praised for his anti-counterfeiting achievements, Hung said.

"During my decades as a market manager, no one has been able to manipulate me with bribes," he told the court.

According to the prosecution, after 27,300 fake textbooks were discovered, Thuan and Hai asked Hung to ignore the fraud in return for a payment of VND400 million ($16,900). Hung later "instructed Thuan to change the statement of origin of the textbooks" to make it look as though it had been brought in for storage.

One day in July 2020, Hai took a black nylon bag with VND300 million in cash from Thuan to Hung's office, but the latter asked him to go away. Early afternoon the same day, Hai returned to the office and gave the money to Hung.

Thuan also gave Le Viet Phuong and the Market Management Team No. 17 a total of VND330 million after the Phu Hung Phat Company was let off with an administrative fine. Phuong gave two junior colleagues a sum of VND11 million ($464) each.

Comments (0)
  • Read More
Singapore's CapitaLand Development forms strategic partnership with Vietnam's Vinhomes

Singapore's CapitaLand Development forms strategic partnership with Vietnam's Vinhomes

CapitaLand Development has expanded in Vietnam with two major moves - a strategic collaboration agreement with leading local developer Vinhomes and the unveiling of The Fullton, a $800 million low-rise residential project in Hung Yen province.

Real Estate - Tue, May 6, 2025 | 2:56 pm GMT+7

Vietnam's disbursed FDI in 4 months posts five-year record high

Vietnam's disbursed FDI in 4 months posts five-year record high

Registered foreign direct investment (FDI) in Vietnam hit $13.82 billion in the first four months of the year, up 39.9%, while disbursed capital reached $6.74 billion, up 7.3% and marking a record high in five years.

Economy - Tue, May 6, 2025 | 2:12 pm GMT+7

Vietnam's Politburo requests prioritizing administrative measures to handle economic violations, instead of criminal prosecution

Vietnam's Politburo requests prioritizing administrative measures to handle economic violations, instead of criminal prosecution

The Politburo, Vietnam's highest decision-making body, has ordered amendments to legal regulations to ensure that administrative measures are prioritized in handling civil and economic cases.

Economy - Tue, May 6, 2025 | 12:30 pm GMT+7

EC postpones Vietnam’s seafood inspection until year end

EC postpones Vietnam’s seafood inspection until year end

The European Commission (EC) has delayed its fifth inspection of Vietnam's efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing to the end of 2025, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE).

Southeast Asia - Tue, May 6, 2025 | 8:53 am GMT+7

Thailand lowers growth forecast for 2025

Thailand lowers growth forecast for 2025

The Thai Ministry of Finance has cut its forecast for the country’s economic growth this year to 2.1% from 3%, saying that the impact of U.S. tariffs and a global slowdown would weigh on Southeast Asia's second-largest economy.

Southeast Asia - Tue, May 6, 2025 | 8:49 am GMT+7

Vietnam’s top lighting manufacturer Rang Dong posts 48% drop in Q1 profit

Vietnam’s top lighting manufacturer Rang Dong posts 48% drop in Q1 profit

Hanoi-based Rang Dong Light Source & Vacuum Flask JSC, a veteran in Vietnam’s consumer goods sector, reported a 48% decline in Q1 post-tax profit to nearly VND101 billion ($3.9 million), blaming intensifying competition from Chinese imports and foreign-invested enterprises.

Companies - Tue, May 6, 2025 | 8:17 am GMT+7

Vietnam spends $1.8 bln on coal imports in Q1, mainly for power plants

Vietnam spends $1.8 bln on coal imports in Q1, mainly for power plants

Vietnam spent more than $1.8 billion importing 17.27 million tons of coal in Q1, primarily to fuel thermal power plants, according to the General Department of Customs.

Economy - Mon, May 5, 2025 | 10:24 pm GMT+7

Vietnam’s utility major REE records 27% net profit growth in Q1 on power segment surge

Vietnam’s utility major REE records 27% net profit growth in Q1 on power segment surge

Private utility firm REE Corporation posted strong profit growth in Q1, primarily driven by a significant improvement in its power segment compared to the same period last year.

Companies - Mon, May 5, 2025 | 10:00 pm GMT+7

Vietnam to hold first round of trade talks with US on Wednesday

Vietnam to hold first round of trade talks with US on Wednesday

Vietnam will hold its first round of negotiations with the U.S. on bilateral trade Wednesday, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said at the ongoing session of the country's parliament.

Economy - Mon, May 5, 2025 | 4:40 pm GMT+7

Nestlé Vietnam announces new investment in flagship coffee plant

Nestlé Vietnam announces new investment in flagship coffee plant

Nestlé will make an additional investment of $75 million to expand its Nestlé Tri An plant in the southern Vietnam province of Dong Nai, bringing its total investment in the facility over 2024-2025 to $175 million.

Companies - Mon, May 5, 2025 | 4:35 pm GMT+7

Vietnam legislature’s ongoing session to mark 'historic breakthrough in institutional reform'

Vietnam legislature’s ongoing session to mark 'historic breakthrough in institutional reform'

The National Assembly's session which opened on Monday morning will make a critical step forward in institutional reform, paving the way for a new era of modernization, digital transformation, green growth, and sustainable development, said the parliament's Chairman Tran Thanh Man.

Politics - Mon, May 5, 2025 | 3:53 pm GMT+7

Business confidence in Vietnam drops to 44-month low over US tariff concerns: S&P Global

Business confidence in Vietnam drops to 44-month low over US tariff concerns: S&P Global

Business confidence in Vietnam dropped sharply in April to the lowest since August 2021, as manufacturers were concerned about the impact of U.S. tariffs on production in the months ahead, according to S&P Global.

Economy - Mon, May 5, 2025 | 3:24 pm GMT+7

Ford distributor City Auto chairman’s wife plans $5 mln buy to become major shareholder

Ford distributor City Auto chairman’s wife plans $5 mln buy to become major shareholder

Ngo Thi Hanh, wife of Ford distributor City Auto (HoSE: CTF) chairman Tran Ngoc Dan, has registered to buy 6 million CTF shares to increase her ownership to 6.4%, according to the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE).

Companies - Mon, May 5, 2025 | 11:41 am GMT+7

HCMC street retail spaces vacant despite rent cuts

HCMC street retail spaces vacant despite rent cuts

Street retail spaces in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's economic hub, continue to face persistent vacancies, as they struggle to compete with modern retail spaces that offer a wider array of goods and services.

Real Estate - Mon, May 5, 2025 | 11:14 am GMT+7

State-controlled giant Vietnam Rubber Group reports strong Q1 profit on high latex prices

State-controlled giant Vietnam Rubber Group reports strong Q1 profit on high latex prices

Vietnam Rubber Group-JSC reported a net profit of VND1,184 billion ($45.5 million) in Q1/2025, 2.5 times higher than Q1/2024, which was largely driven by sustained high rubber latex prices amid rising global demand and tight supply.

Companies - Mon, May 5, 2025 | 8:22 am GMT+7

KRX trading system to go live on Monday: A 'pivotal milestone' for Vietnam's market status upgrade

KRX trading system to go live on Monday: A 'pivotal milestone' for Vietnam's market status upgrade

The official launch of the new KRX trading system on May 5, after more than a decade of preparations, will mark a pivotal turning point for Vietnam’s stock market status upgrade, said Nguyen Duy Hung, chairman of leading broker Saigon Securities Inc. (SSI).

Finance - Sun, May 4, 2025 | 10:02 pm GMT+7