Vietnam Jails 30 Officials, Businessmen Over $45M Corruption Scandal

A Hanoi court sentenced 30 individuals, including former senior officials and businesspeople, to prison for a massive corruption scandal that caused state losses of about $45 million. Nguyen Van Hau, chairman of Phuc Son Group, received the longest sentence of 30 years for bribing officials over $5 million to secure contracts in multiple provinces, frequently delivering cash bribes in suitcases. Hoang Thi Thuy Lan, former Communist Party chief of Vinh Phuc province, was sentenced to 14 years after admitting to taking nearly $2 million in bribes, including suitcases weighing up to 60 kilograms. The crackdown is part of a broader anti-corruption campaign that has already led to the removal of two presidents and three deputy prime ministers, demonstrating the government's commitment to holding top figures accountable. Some convicted individuals have compensated the state over $45 million for damages, and the cases involve violations ranging from bribery and abuse of power to bid rigging and accounting fraud. The campaign continues to target high-ranking officials and business leaders to restore integrity in Vietnam's government and public sector.