Defendant Dinh La Thang asked to celebrate his last Tet with his family.

Defendant Dinh La Thang appeared sad and in pain when he had to stand before the court. Photo: VNN

The first person to have the last word was Mr. Dinh La Thang (former Chairman of the Board of Members of PVN). The Procuracy proposed the heaviest sentence for Mr. Thang among the defendants tried for the crime of Intentional Violation, with a sentence of 14-15 years in prison.

Mr. Dinh La Thang took the prepared paper and read: "First, allow the defendant to thank the panel of judges for conducting the trial democratically and objectively... Thank the lawyers for participating in the trial with profound legal knowledge and very sharp opinions.

Exactly 35 years ago, after graduating from university, the defendant and his girlfriend (now wife) went to work at the construction site of the Song Da Hydropower Plant with the youthful desire to conquer.

After 35 years of service, including 33 years of honorable service to the glorious Communist Party of Vietnam, the defendant has always strived to fulfill his assigned tasks. Today, the defendant never thought he would have to stand before the court to say his last words. This is truly a pain and misfortune for the defendant and his family.

At work, the defendant always worked responsibly, determinedly, dared to think, dared to do, and dared to take responsibility. The defendant worked without holidays or Tet holidays. Every Tet holiday, his wife asked him which construction site he was going to, but never asked if he was home. When his wife gave birth to two daughters, the defendant was not home, but when his subordinate's wife gave birth, the defendant went to visit her.

The defendant always tried his best to complete the work, with the responsibility as the leader. There were shortcomings and mistakes in PVN, so today some former leaders have to stand before the court to accept their responsibility.

In the transport sector, as the leader, the defendant still owes the people a North-South expressway, Long Thanh airport, a high-speed railway, thousands of bridges for people in remote areas... In Ho Chi Minh City, the defendant still owes the people the aspiration to turn Ho Chi Minh City into a peaceful city without theft, to become the Pearl of the Far East, owes the people of the city the aspiration to turn Ho Chi Minh City into a new administrative center, owes the people of Can Gio the aspiration to become a new Singapore of Asia...

The defendant bows his head to apologize to the Party, the State, the oil and gas industry officials, the transportation industry officials, and the people of Ho Chi Minh City.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong once said: The purpose of handling is to help people overcome, correct, and progress, to help them recognize their own shortcomings and correct them. This is the cadre work of the Party and Uncle Ho, demonstrating the strictness of the law and the leniency of the law.

The defendant hopes that the panel of judges will be imbued with the Party's and the law's viewpoints, in accordance with the legal basis, so that everyone has the opportunity to raise their heads, the opportunity to correct, progress, mature, and correct mistakes.

I hope the jury will correctly assess the behavior and nature of the incident.

After this case, the defendant has to face another case that also occurred at PVN. The defendant does not know if he will have any final words. The defendant hopes that the panel of judges will consider his specific circumstances so that he has time to serve his sentence, so that before he dies, he can be recognized as someone who has completed his duties. During 35 years of work, the defendant himself realizes that he has not fulfilled his duties and responsibilities.

When the defendant was disciplined by the Central Executive Committee, his daughter said: "Dad, it's lucky you get to stay home this Tet. Now you don't have the chance to fulfill that small dream. This Tet you don't have to go to the construction site anymore but you have to go to jail."

The lawyers told the defendant that his two grandchildren still ask him why his grandfather was away on business for so long. All his dreams and aspirations have now been crushed. Uncle Ho said that one day in prison is worth a thousand years on bail. Only after being in prison did the defendant realize the great value of the two words "Freedom"...

But at any time, the defendant is absolutely loyal to the Party, the State, and the people, believes in the Party's leadership, and believes in the fair, just, and objective handling of the jury.

The defendant’s father was just rushed to Bach Mai Hospital the other afternoon, so the defendant hopes that the People’s Court and the prosecution will consider allowing the defendant to change the preventive measures so that he can take care of his father. The defendant’s father is 87 years old and is suffering from a serious illness. Please allow the defendant to celebrate the last Tet with his family, friends, and relatives, after which he will serve his prison sentence without knowing when he will be released.

Regarding responsibility, the defendant has admitted it from the beginning. I ask the jury to consider the other defendants, who have been caught up in legal trouble because of their responsibility. Please allow the defendant to accept responsibility on behalf of those defendants, so that they can enjoy leniency under the law.

Ahead are endless days in prison, but the defendant always believes in the fairness of the law and the jury. Finally, the defendant would like to thank the Party, the People, the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuracy, the lawyers, and T16 of the Ministry of Public Security...

Thanks to my family, wife and children, I only realized the great value of my family, wife and children after being imprisoned. It was very painful. Thanks to my friends, relatives, comrades and colleagues for their sympathy and sharing with my situation. Finally, I thank the jury, the prosecutor and the lawyers..."

Mr. Dinh La Thang concluded his final statement.