Former publishing company chairman arrested for bidding violations

By Thai Ha
Mon, February 13, 2023 | 7:39 pm GMT+7

Nguyen Duc Thai, former chairman of the wholly state-owned Vietnam Education Publishing House, was arrested on Monday for alleged bidding violations in supply of printing paper.

Thai and Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy, former head of marketing planning at the firm were detained by the Ministry of Public Security's investigative agency for further investigation on charges of abusing positions and powers while on official duty.

Nguyen Duc Thai (L) and Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy. Photo courtesy of Ministry of Public Security.

Nguyen Duc Thai (L) and Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy. Photo courtesy of Ministry of Public Security.

On the same day, the police detained Dinh Quoc Khanh, former deputy head of the company's marketing planning, and To My Ngoc, chairman of the Phung Vinh Hung Paper Joint Stock Company, on charges of violating bidding regulations causing serious consequences.

Initial investigation results show that Thai, Khanh, Thuy and Ngoc violated the laws on ensuring fairness and transparency in bidding activities to supply printing paper.

The investigative agency concluded that the defendants' collusion has caused particularly serious damage to state property.

After winning the bid, Thai and Thuy "received material benefits" from Ngoc, the police said.

One month ago, Thuy was arrested in another case- the Viet A Company Covid test kit scam - on charges of taking advantage of influence over people with positions and powers for personal gains.

Thuy was found to have influenced some leaders of a number of ministries and state agencies to help Viet A Company produce and trade Covid-19 test kits for illicit profits.

The wholly state-owned Vietnam Education Publishing House has a charter capital of VND596 billion ($25.25 million), with the Ministry of Education and Training as its governing body.

In 2021, the company printed more than 164 million textbooks, earning a total revenue of VND1,828 billion ($77.44 million), of which over 97% came from book publishing activities. Its profit after tax was VND287 billion ($12.16 million), an all-time high.

At the end of last year, the Government Inspectorate determined that there were many "abnormalities, which did not ensure fairness and economic efficiency" in the company choosing contractors to supply textbooks.

Checking some of the printing paper supply contracts between the company and private firm Phung Vinh Hung, the Government Inspector found that the average price of printing paper is 1.7 times higher than the price of paper directly imported by the former, or a difference of about VND210 billion ($8.9 million).

Comments (0)
  • Read More
Rixos debuts in Southeast Asia on Vietnam’s 'Pearl Island'

Rixos debuts in Southeast Asia on Vietnam’s 'Pearl Island'

A new chapter in travel is unfolding in Southeast Asia as Rixos Hotels, the world’s leading all-inclusive brand, prepares to unveil its first-ever resort in the region.

Travel - Sat, July 12, 2025 | 6:48 pm GMT+7

Vietnam’s biggest airport project ‘races to the finish line’

Vietnam’s biggest airport project ‘races to the finish line’

The Ministry of Construction has requested investors of the Long Thanh International Airport to complete the main route by August 2025 to facilitate trial operations of the passenger terminal and other components.

Infrastructure - Sat, July 12, 2025 | 6:19 pm GMT+7

Singapore's YCH Group eyes developing logistics center in southern Vietnam economic zone

Singapore's YCH Group eyes developing logistics center in southern Vietnam economic zone

Tay Ninh province has pledged full support to Singapore’s YCH Group in developing a logistics center within its Moc Bai Border Gate Economic Zone.

Industries - Sat, July 12, 2025 | 1:48 pm GMT+7

Vietnam PM asks US firms to sustain support for 'reasonable, detailed tariff pact'

Vietnam PM asks US firms to sustain support for 'reasonable, detailed tariff pact'

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has called on U.S. businesses to continue supporting the Vietnamese government in dialogues with U.S. agencies to soon reach "a reasonable, detailed tariff agreement for individual products and product groups".

Economy - Sat, July 12, 2025 | 11:32 am GMT+7

Mergers of Vietnamese provinces unlock new property development opportunities

Mergers of Vietnamese provinces unlock new property development opportunities

The merging of Vietnamese localities is expected to create a strong "boost" for the real estate market as expanded planning space, synchronized infrastructure, and new land reserves are key factors driving the market's transformation.

Real Estate - Sat, July 12, 2025 | 11:00 am GMT+7

Measures proposed for Thailand to minimize US tariff impacts

Measures proposed for Thailand to minimize US tariff impacts

Financial and banking experts in Thailand have warned that the U.S.'s proposed 36% tariff on Thai goods is likely to severely undermine Thailand's export competitiveness.

Southeast Asia - Sat, July 12, 2025 | 9:06 am GMT+7

Chinese construction major PCG eyes $383 mln underwater tunnel project in northern Vietnam

Chinese construction major PCG eyes $383 mln underwater tunnel project in northern Vietnam

Pacific Construction Group (PCG), one of China’s leading construction firms, has expressed interest in developing a VND10 trillion ($383 million) underwater road tunnel in Quang Ninh, a coastal province in northern Vietnam.

Infrastructure - Sat, July 12, 2025 | 8:04 am GMT+7

Vingroup stocks pull VN-Index up for sixth consecutive session

Vingroup stocks pull VN-Index up for sixth consecutive session

VN-Index, which represents the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange, on Friday increased for the sixth consecutive session thanks to large-cap stocks, with foreign investors continuing to strongly net buy.

Finance - Fri, July 11, 2025 | 7:20 pm GMT+7

Coca-Cola inaugurates largest-scale Vietnam factory in Tay Ninh province

Coca-Cola inaugurates largest-scale Vietnam factory in Tay Ninh province

Coca-Cola Beverages Vietnam on Friday inaugurated a $136 million factory in Tay Ninh province, the largest-scale among its four facilities in Vietnam.

Industries - Fri, July 11, 2025 | 5:27 pm GMT+7

Vietnam halts use of German ODA loans for HCMC metro line

Vietnam halts use of German ODA loans for HCMC metro line

The Government has approved a proposal by Ho Chi Minh City to stop borrowing official development assistance (ODA) loans from Germany’s KfW development bank for Metro Line No. 2 and instead use domestic funds to avoid further delays.

Economy - Fri, July 11, 2025 | 3:25 pm GMT+7

Seventeen housing projects foreigners allowed to buy in HCMC

Seventeen housing projects foreigners allowed to buy in HCMC

Ho Chi Minh City has announced a list of 17 residential projects located in areas where foreign organizations and individuals are allowed to own houses.

Real Estate - Fri, July 11, 2025 | 3:17 pm GMT+7

Auto enterprises to enjoy preferential import tariff policies

Auto enterprises to enjoy preferential import tariff policies

The Government has issued a decree amending and supplementing Decree No. 26/2023/ND-CP on the export and preferential import tariff schedules, as well as the lists of goods subject to absolute tax, mixed tax, and out-of-quota import duties.

Companies - Fri, July 11, 2025 | 2:13 pm GMT+7

Korean chaebol Samsung’s revenue makes up 13% of Vietnam’s GDP in 2024

Korean chaebol Samsung’s revenue makes up 13% of Vietnam’s GDP in 2024

Samsung’s revenue and export in Vietnam accounted for approximately 13.12% of the country’s GDP and 13.4% of its total export turnover in 2024, respectively, according to the National Statistics Office.

Companies - Fri, July 11, 2025 | 2:09 pm GMT+7

JPMorgan upgrades Vietnam stocks to overweight following US tariff deal

JPMorgan upgrades Vietnam stocks to overweight following US tariff deal

JPMorgan Chase has upgraded Vietnam stocks to overweight after the country became the first Southeast Asian nation to reach a preliminary tariff deal with the U.S.

Economy - Fri, July 11, 2025 | 11:38 am GMT+7

Vietnam government bond issuance surges nearly 70% in June

Vietnam government bond issuance surges nearly 70% in June

The Hanoi Stock Exchange (HNX) held 16 government bond auctions in June, raising nearly VND30.5 trillion ($1.2 billion), up 68.8% from May.

Finance - Fri, July 11, 2025 | 9:30 am GMT+7

Xuan Truong Company asked to make feasibility study for airport proposal in northern Vietnam

Xuan Truong Company asked to make feasibility study for airport proposal in northern Vietnam

The Ministry of Construction has asked Ninh Binh authorities to prepare a feasibility study on the potential development of an international airport in the province, the ministry said in a report submitted to the Government regarding a proposal from private construction company Xuan Truong.

Companies - Fri, July 11, 2025 | 9:18 am GMT+7