Prosecutors release video of investigator receiving briefcase allegedly with bribe money

Hoang Van Hung, a former division head of the Ministry of Public Security’s investigation department, has been saying at the trial that stared last week he was framed by prosecutors and demanded proof of his crime.

He has been refusing to admit he received a briefcase with the money inside from Nguyen Anh Tuan, former deputy director of the Hanoi police, but footage from a security camera shows him taking the briefcase from a car driver.

He is in a black suit and gets out of the investigation department headquarters on Tran Binh Trong Street to meet Tuan’s driver to take the briefcase.

“After receiving the briefcase, Hung stood next to the car to receive a phone call, which matches Tuan’s confessions,” prosecutors said.

“He then walked to his own car parked nearby… got into it and stayed for around seven minutes before driving away. When he returned to his office, he did not have the briefcase with him.”

But while Tuan said the briefcase had contained money, Hung said it had contained four bottles of wine.

The prosecutors said: “Due to the large sum involved, Hung had to personally receive it. The briefcase was later disposed of by Hung, and could not be retrieved.”

 

 

Prosecutors release video of investigator receiving briefcase allegedly with bribe money

VKS công bố video cựu điều tra viên cầm cặp đựng tiền ‘chạy án’

Data from Hung and Tuan’s phones showed that the day before the briefcase changed hands Hung and Tuan had spoken eight times, and seven times again the next day.

If it was just wine, there was no need to call each other 15 times, the prosecutors said.

Hung and Tuan are accused of helping Le Hong Son and Nguyen Thi Thanh Hang, general director and deputy general director of Hanoi-based travel firm Blue Sky, evade bribery laws related to the approval of repatriation flights they organized.

Hung was accused of appropriating $800,000 from Hang. Prosecutors said he received $350,000 in another time.

Hung has said he is being charged “recklessly and with many issues,” while the prosecution has labeled his claim of not receiving money from Tuan “a lie and fabrication.”

Hoang Van Hung (R), a former division head of the Ministry of Public Security’s investigation department, is escorted to trial in Hanoi, July 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Thanh

The prosecutors claimed Hung had tried to cover his tracks by holding all meetings at Tuan’s house after 8 p.m., forbidding Hang from directly contacting him and always using burner SIM cards to call Tuan.

They said he used his knowledge of the law to try and deny his crime, and have recommended a sentence of 19-20 years.

Fifty four people are facing trial at the Hanoi People’s Court over the scandal in which a total of VND165 billion ($7 million) was allegedly given as bribes.

At least one death sentence has also been recommended.

The trial, which began on July 11, is expected to go on for a month.