3 years in prison for former Chief of Office of Bac Lieu province
After a temporary postponement of the first trial, on April 25, the People's Court of Bac Lieu province opened the second trial, trying the criminal case on the charges of "Giving bribes" and "Receiving bribes" at Bac Lieu Construction and Housing Development Joint Stock Company.
Bui Thanh Hong, former Chief of Office of the People's Committee of Bac Lieu province, answered questions at the trial. (Source: nongnghiep.vn)
After 2 days of trial, on June 26, the Trial Panel chaired by Judge Duong Manh Thang sentenced defendant Pham Van Quang, (born in 1957, former Director of Bac Lieu Housing Development and Construction Joint Stock Company - abbreviated as the housing development company) to 14 years in prison; Tran Thanh Tung, (born in 1973, former Deputy Director of the housing development company) to 13 years in prison for the crime of "giving bribes;" sentenced defendant Nguyen Hoang Linh, (born in 1979, former Credit Officer of the Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Industry and Trade, Bac Lieu Province Branch) to 7 years in prison and Bui Thanh Hong, (born in 1952, former Chief of Office of the Bac Lieu Provincial People's Committee) to 3 years in prison for the crime of "receiving bribes" and at the same time, sentenced to confiscation of all the money that the defendants gave and received in bribes.
According to the indictment of the People's Procuracy of Bac Lieu province: After equitization, during business operations in 2008 and 2009, the two defendants Pham Van Quang and Tran Thanh Tung discussed and agreed to bribe defendant Nguyen Hoang Linh, former Credit Officer of the Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Industry and Trade, Bac Lieu branch, the amount of 160 million VND and bribe defendant Bui Thanh Hong, former Chief of Office of the People's Committee of Bac Lieu province, with a total amount of 120 million VND, so that defendants Hong and Linh would help quickly resolve procedures and tasks to serve the interests of Bac Lieu Housing Development and Construction Joint Stock Company.
During the public interrogation at the trial, both defendants prosecuted for "bribery", Pham Van Quang and Tran Thanh Tung, denied giving bribes to Nguyen Hoang Linh, saying that the 160 million VND spent on Nguyen Hoang Linh was a normal amount of compensation, and not for any purpose. Regarding the 120 million VND spent on Bui Thanh Hong, defendants Quang and Tung also said that Bui Thanh Hong "asked" for it, so he "gave it" and it was out of affection, not motivated by bribery. Defendant Hong also defended herself, admitting that she "asked" for money to buy glasses, go on business trips, and receive medical treatment, but did not accept bribes.
The defendants' defense attorneys also shared the same argument that their clients did not commit the crime of "giving and receiving bribes" as alleged in the indictment, but argued that the amount of money that defendants Quang and Tung spent on Hong and Linh was a normal amount of support...
The case has just closed the part of the crime of "receiving and giving bribes." As for the two crimes that the Procuracy prosecuted the defendants Quang, Tung and Nguyen Thi Thuy Trang (born in 1976, former Accountant of the housing development company) in this case for "Intentionally violating the State's regulations on economic management causing serious consequences" and "Lack of responsibility causing serious damage to State property," are awaiting the conclusion of the additional investigation and will be brought to trial in the near future.
According to VNA
