Localities review projects related to troubled contractor Thuan An Group

The people's committees of Quang Nam, Phu Yen, and Dak Lak provinces have ordered a review of investment projects in their localities related to troubled infrastructure builder Thuan An Group JSC.

On Tuesday, the Office of Quang Nam People's Committee said that the committee has instructed departments, divisions, and agencies, and the people's committees of districts and towns to provide information related to Thuan An Group, whose chairman Nguyen Duy Hung was detained on Monday for “violating bidding regulations causing serious consequences”, and “bribery”.

In the central province of Quang Nam, Thuan An Group joined other partners in a bidding package to construct a section of a VND458 billion ($18 million) project to renovate and upgrade National Highway 14E.

On the same day, Phu Yen People's Committee, also in central Vietnam, issued a written request to the Department of Planning and Investment, the provincial Economic Zone Authority, and other relevant agencies, as well as the people's committees of districts and towns to report on projects and bidding packages implemented by Thuan An Group and its member units.

In March 2019, Thuan An Group won a VND496 billion ($19.56 million) package as part of a traffic infrastructure project in Tuy Hoa town.

Meanwhile, Dak Lak People's Committee in the Central Highlands has requested relevant units to provide records related to Thuan An Group's implementation of a project to build Ho Chi Minh Road - eastern bypass in Buon Ma Thuot town. The project was implemented from 2020 to 2023, with investment capital of over VND1.5 trillion ($59.15 million) sourced from the central budget.

Chairman Nguyen Duy Hung and five other officials of Hanoi-headquartered Thuan An Group were detained by the Ministry of Public Security’s investigative agency for violations that occurred at Thuan An Group and related units.

In addition to Hung, others subjected to legal proceedings are Tran Anh Quang, general director of Thuan An Group, on charges of “giving bribes”; Nguyen Khac Man, deputy general director, for “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; deputy director Dam Van Cuong for “violating bidding regulations causing serious consequences” and “receiving bribes”; and Hoang The Du, head of a division at the management board, for “violating bidding regulations causing serious consequences”.

The investigation is being expanded to clarify the violations at Thuan An Group and related units.

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).