Dismissal of former Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Bac Son

At the 8th Central Conference, 12th tenure taking place in Hanoi (from October 2 to 6), the Central Executive Committee reviewed and decided to discipline Mr. Nguyen Bac Son - former member of the Party Central Committee, former Secretary of the Party Committee, former Minister of Information and Communications.

Specifically, Mr. Nguyen Bac Son was removed from the position of member of the 11th Party Central Committee and Secretary of the Party Committee of the Ministry of Information and Communications for the 2011-2016 term.

Previously on July 12, under the chairmanship of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, the Politburo met to consider and discipline Mr. Nguyen Bac Son and related groups and individuals.

Mr. Son is under disciplinary review for violations in the project of MobiFone Telecommunications Corporation buying 95% of shares of AVG Global Audiovisual Joint Stock Company (project).

According to the conclusion of the Politburo, Mr. Nguyen Bac Son must bear primary responsibility for the shortcomings of the Party Executive Committee of the Ministry of Information and Communications for the 2011-2016 term.

Mr. Son violated the principle of democratic centralism and working regulations; lacked democracy in leadership and direction; did not discuss with the Party Executive Committee. He directly decided on many contents related to the project that were not in accordance with regulations; signed documents to submit to the Prime Minister for approval of the project investment policy and assigned subordinates to sign a number of documents related to the project with contents that were contrary to regulations and not in accordance with the assigned tasks. He also lacked direction and inspection of the project implementation process, allowing many very serious violations to occur.

The Politburo assessed Mr. Nguyen Bac Son's violations as very serious, therefore, proposed that the Central Executive Committee consider strictly disciplining Mr. Nguyen Bac Son according to its authority.

Mr. Nguyen Bac Son was born in 1953, his hometown is Hanoi. He has a PhD, is a member of the Party Central Committee, term X, XI, and a delegate to the National Assembly, term XIII.

Mr. Son has held many positions: military officer; assistant to President Le Duc Anh; Secretary of Thai Nguyen Provincial Party Committee; Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda Department; Minister of Information and Communications.

In early 2016, the MobiFone project to buy 95% of AVG shares was revealed, but the amount was not mentioned. At that time, the Ministry of Information and Communications requested the Ministry of Public Security to put this transaction under the Confidential category - contrary to current regulations.

After the authorities intervened and concluded the project, MobiFone and AVG agreed to cancel the transfer contract. AVG shareholders returned more than VND8,500 billion, including the entire value of 95% of shares and VND60 billion for related expenses.

On July 10, the Investigation Police Agency initiated a case of Violating regulations on management and use of public investment capital causing serious consequences (Article 220 of the 2015 Penal Code) occurring at MobiFone Telecommunications Corporation and related units; prosecuted and detained Mr. Le Nam Tra (57 years old, former Chairman of the Board of Directors, former General Director of MobiFone) and Mr. Pham Dinh Trong (48 years old, Director of the Department of Enterprise Management, Ministry of Information and Communications) for the same crime.