The Ministry of Public Security in Vietnam has made a public appeal for Nguyễn Công Minh, the chairman of Công Minh Green Company, to surrender to authorities. This request comes as part of an ongoing investigation into serious allegations of bidding violations and bribery involving Minh and his company.

On September 7, the Ministry announced that the investigation unit had concluded its supplementary investigation into the case, which involves violations of bidding regulations that resulted in severe consequences, including bribery and receiving bribes. The investigation has determined that Minh, aged 53 and originally from Hà Tĩnh, is the mastermind behind these fraudulent activities.

According to the investigative conclusions, Minh directed regional directors and branch managers within his company to engage in collusion during bidding processes, inflate material prices, and utilize “dummy” firms to enhance their chances of winning contracts. He founded a private enterprise named “Công Minh Ornamental Plants and Seedlings” on February 28, 2002, which later evolved into Công Minh Green Company on November 22, 2006, focusing on the cultivation of seedlings for sale.

From 2017 until June 2023, Minh established or acquired an additional 59 companies, creating a network of 60 firms operating across 38 provinces and cities. Out of these, 34 companies successfully won bids, with some used as “dummy” firms. Although these companies are legally independent, they were managed under a conglomerate model.

The investigation has revealed that these actions have caused the state significant financial losses, amounting to over 395 billion VND. Specifically, Minh is alleged to have personally benefited from these schemes, receiving more than 254 billion VND through bank transfers. Prior to the conclusion of the supplementary investigation, authorities issued 285 requests for material valuation across more than 1,220 projects awarded to Minh's network of companies.

As part of the investigation, the Ministry of Public Security has proposed prosecuting 35 individuals for their involvement in these serious bidding violations. Notably, Nguyễn Công Minh has reportedly fled abroad since 2023, complicating efforts to bring him to justice.