Free Land case: Six companies accused of using 100 false invoices to evade tax
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security says six companies used 100 false invoices to file tax declarations, resulting in more than VND 14 billion in tax evasion. Investigators have recommended prosecution and referred 13 companies suspected of selling the invoices to Ho Chi Minh City police.
Investigators from Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security have completed their investigation into a case involving Free Land Joint Stock Company (Công ty CP Free Land) and recommended prosecuting the suspects. Investigators found that former chairman and general director Vũ Minh Lý instructed accountant Nguyễn Thị Hương Duyên to use six companies he controlled to fabricate contracts and buy and use false value-added tax (VAT) invoices in tax filings.
The suspects bought 80 false VAT invoices from 13 other companies and used 20 invoices issued by companies in the group to claim input VAT. Free Land Joint Stock Company used 35 false invoices with a total face value of more than VND 579 billion; Công ty 3L Sài Gòn used 23 worth more than VND 281 billion; and Công ty Sao Lion used nine worth more than VND 150 billion.
Illustrative image.（VietVance）
On August 10, 2026, an examiner from the Ho Chi Minh City tax department concluded that the six companies’ use of a total of 100 false invoices in tax filings constituted tax evasion involving more than VND 14 billion. During the investigation, Vũ Minh Lý said he had spent about VND 35.5 billion buying invoices and acknowledged that buying and using false invoices for accounting and VAT declarations was illegal.
The case also involves a 125-hectare residential project in the former Đồng Nai Province. Investigators found that Vũ Minh Lý allegedly used personal connections to have Free Land Joint Stock Company appointed as the project investor without a competitive investor selection process. Irregularities in the project’s land allocation and valuation caused losses of more than VND 117 billion. He is also accused of paying VND 30.7 billion in bribes. Total losses in the case were assessed at more than VND 131 billion, and investigators said the funds recovered or temporarily seized were sufficient to cover them.
Investigators have referred the conduct of 13 companies suspected of selling false VAT invoices, along with related materials, to Ho Chi Minh City police. The companies are registered in the city and are suspected of illegally trading invoices.
Source: VietVance
