According to the indictment, announced in November 2010 by the Supreme People’s Procuracy, in 1998 Bui Tien Dung led the Project Management Unit, which was assigned to a US$63.3 million ODA-funded project to build the Bai Chay Bridge and the project needed support from many consultants.

Dung and his accomplices then allegedly made false lists of consultants to appropriate more than VND3 billion (US$146,200) from the state budget.

After postponing the trial numerous times so prosecutors could collect more evidence, the Hanoi People’s Court will begin the new trial from June 27 to July 6, under the chair of Judge Le Thi Hop.

Dung will be tried along with nine accomplices, including Nguyen Vu Nam, former head of the Project Initiation Department No. 6 (PID 6); Nguyen Cong Dung, a former PID 6 expert; Nghiem Phu Son, former deputy head of PID 6; Le Minh Giang, former deputy head of PID 5; Nguyen Huu Minh, former executing director of the Bai Chay 1 (BC1) bid; Nguyen Huu Long, former executive director of the BC3 bid; Tran Duc Hung, chief of the consulting office for the Bai Chay Bridge project; and Do Kim Quy, a former deputy general director PMU 18.

Other than Quy, who is charged with “using assets created by criminals,” the other defendants will be charged with embezzlement.

Dung used VND500 million ($24,300) from the amount as a “seeing-off gift” to Quy who was about to retire at the time.

Quy knew the money was illegal but still accepted it.

Bui Tien Dung was escorted to the court room in a previous trial

After police began investigating, Quy handed in all VND500 million to the investigation agency.
Dung is still in prison, while the others are have been released on bail.

In November 2007, Dung was sentenced to 13 years in prison for gambling and bribery. Nearly three years later, in August 2010, he was sentenced to an additional three years for “deliberately acting against the State’s economic management regulations causing serious consequences.”

Dung has served two years.