Four former business leaders prosecuted for involvement with Vu 'Nhom'

August 9, DColonel Tran Muu (Head of the Investigation Police Agency, Deputy Director of Da Nang Police)The Investigation Police Agency (Ministry of Public Security) has prosecuted the following men:Phan Ngoc Thach (former Chairman of the Board of Directors, General Director of Danang Tourism Joint Stock Company - Danatours); Mr. Tran Phi (former Chairman of the Board of Directors of Danang Import-Export Joint Stock Company); Mr. Nguyen Cong Lang (former Director of Danang House Management Company); Mr. Huynh Tan Loc (former Chairman of the Board of Directors of Danang Pharmaceutical Technology Company).

Police and the Procuracy searched Mr. Loc's house on Thanh Son Street (Hai Chau District, Da Nang). Photo: V.D.

Four people were prosecuted for criminal liability.sinViolating regulations on management and use of state assets causing loss and waste, as prescribed in Article 219 of the 2015 Penal Code.

On the morning and afternoon of August 9, authorities searched the defendants’ homes and seized documents. The proceedings were coordinated by the Da Nang Police.

Four defendants were released on bail and are suspected of being responsible for selling public housing to Phan Van Anh Vu in Hai Chau district - the central area of ​​Da Nang. Of these, Mr. Thach is responsible for the house and land at 100 Bach Dang; Mr. Phi for the house and land at 106 Tran Phu; Mr. Lang for the house and land at 39 Pasteur, 2 Hai Phong and 107 Hoang Hoa Tham; Mr. Loc for the land lot at 57 Le Duan street.

Public houses and lands on the islandwas sold and transferred under the terms of two former Chairmen of the People's Committee of Da Nang City, Mr. Tran Van Minh (63 years old, Chairman of Da Nang from 2006 to 2011) and Mr. Van Huu Chien (64 years old, Chairman of Da Nang from 2011 to 2014).

On April 17, the Ministry of Public Security prosecuted him.Minh and Mr. Chien for the crimesViolating regulations on management and use of state assets causing loss and waste(Article 219 of the 2015 Penal Code) andViolating state regulations on land management(Article 229 of the 2015 Penal Code).

In connection with the case, the investigation agency also prosecuted Mr. Nguyen Dieu (former Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment); Tran Van Toan (former Deputy Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Da Nang) and Le Canh Duong (former Director of the Department of Investment Promotion and Support of Da Nang) for the act ofViolating state regulations on land management(Article 229 of the 2015 Penal Code).

At the end of July, the Ministry of Public Security sent a document requesting the Da Nang government to review and freeze assets related to these defendants.

Phan Van Anh Vu, 43 years old, is a famous real estate tycoon in Da Nang. On December 21, 2017, Mr. Vu was prosecuted by the Security Investigation Agency (Ministry of Public Security) for "Disclosing state secret documents", according to Article 263 of the 1999 Penal Code. On January 4, Mr. Vu was brought back to Hanoi after many days of hiding from a wanted warrant in Singapore.

On the afternoon of July 30, after a day of closed-door trial, the Hanoi People's Court sentenced Mr. Vu to 9 years in prison. His accomplice in this case, Mr. Phan Huu Tuan (63 years old, former Lieutenant General, former Deputy Director General of the General Department of Intelligence, Ministry of Public Security) was sentenced to 7 years and Nguyen Huu Bach (55 years old, former officer of the Ministry of Public Security) received a sentence of 6 years.

In the caseIntentionally violating state regulations on economic managementandViolation of lending regulationsoccurred at Dong A Commercial Joint Stock Bank (DAB), Mr. Vu was also prosecuted for the crime.Abuse of position and power to appropriate property.