Two Vietnam's Provincial Leaders Arrested in Connection with Businessman

Vietnam police has detained two provincial leaders on charges of receiving bribes from a wealthy business owner.

The arrests, which took place on March 27, targeted high-ranking officials from multiple provinces, revealing a web of corruption intertwined with the activities of businessman Nguyen Van Hau, also known as "Hau Phao."

Ties to Phuc Son Group Unveiled

The arrests of Mr. Le Viet Chu, former Secretary of the Quang Ngai Provincial Party Committee, and Mr. Pham Hoang Anh, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Vinh Phuc Provincial Party Committee, shed light on the deep-seated corruption linked to the Phuc Son Group.

Mr. Le Viet Chu, a once-prominent figure in Quang Ngai province, now faces charges of accepting bribes. The allegations against Chu revolve around suspicions of receiving illicit funds from Phuc Son Group Chairman Nguyen Van Hau.

These funds were purportedly aimed at influencing the awarding of contracts, including the construction of the main road on the south bank of Tra Khuc River.

Chu's arrest follows similar actions against other Quang Ngai officials, including Mr. Dang Van Minh and Cao Khoa, two former Chairmen of the province's People's Committee, who were apprehended 20 days prior on bribery charges linked to Phuc Son Group.

Vinh Phuc's Leadership Implicated

Meanwhile, in Vinh Phuc province, Mr. Pham Hoang Anh's arrest adds to the growing list of officials implicated in corruption scandals. Anh, the Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Vinh Phuc Provincial Party Committee, faces accusations of accepting bribes to facilitate Phuc Son Group's projects, notably the Vinh Tuong wholesale market project.

Anh's arrest comes on the heels of similar actions against Ms. Hoang Thi Thuy Lan, Secretary of Vinh Phuc Provincial Party Committee, and Mr. Le Duy Thanh, Chairman of Vinh Phuc province. Both Lan and Thanh were detained earlier on charges related to bribery and their alleged connections to Hau Phao's illicit activities.

A Hard Fight Against Corruption

The case surrounding Phuc Son Group, initially brought to light with the prosecution of Nguyen Van Hau on February 26 this year, reveals a pattern of corruption entrenched within Vietnam's governance structures.

Despite repeated and consistent warnings from the Politburo and measures to address corruption, individuals like Chu and Anh have allegedly exploited their positions for personal gain, eroding public confidence in the integrity of the country's leadership.

With billions of dong (USD 1 = VND 24,900) allegedly changing hands, the case underscores the challenges faced by Vietnamese authorities in combating graft and ensuring accountability at all levels of government.