Former official accused of corruption involving in a scandal of Japan-based Pacific Consultants International (PCI) was sentenced life in prison by the Ho Chi Minh City People's Court on Monday.
Huynh Ngoc Sy was accused of taking bribes of up to US$262,000 from PCI to ensure the company won bids in 2001 and 2002 for the city’s East-West highway project that was backed by Japanese aid.
Huynh Ngoc Sy was deputy director of city’s Transport Department at the time and led a team in charge of the project.
On Friday he denied any involvement in the bribery.
Under the Vietnamese Law the accused of VND500-million corruption is sentenced to death. However, Huynh Ngoc Sy got remission for his family serving the country during wars against foreign invaders and his contribution to the country.
He is already serving a six-year sentence for pocketing rent paid by PCI for using stated-owned offices.
The case was investigated after the Japanese Government had prosecuted PCI officials in the bribery. Last year a Tokyo court sentenced former PCI president Masayoshi Taga of suspended prison term for bribing Huynh Ngoc Sy.
The case caused suspending aid to Vietnam by the Japanese Government in the beginning of last year. However the Japanese Cabinet resumed the aid several months later.
