Former National Assembly delegate Chau Thi Thu Nga faces life in prison

On the afternoon of October 2, many lawyers requested to postpone the trial of former National Assembly delegate Chau Thi Thu Nga, but the Hanoi People's Court did not accept.

On October 2, Hanoi People's Court opened the first instance trial of former National Assembly delegate Chau Thi Thu Nga and 9 accomplices for the crime of Fraudulent appropriation of property.

As the only person detained, Ms. Nga bowed her head to avoid being photographed. More than 500 victims and more than 70 people and organizations with related rights and obligations were summoned. Of the 10 lawyers participating in the proceedings, 4 defended Ms. Nga. According to the prosecution's penalty framework, Ms. Nga faces the highest sentence of up to life imprisonment.

The nine people who appeared in court with Ms. Nga include: Nguyen Truong Son (49 years old, former deputy general director), Le Hong Cuong (48 years old, former deputy general director), Nguyen Vu Hung (52 years old, former deputy general director), Phan Thanh Tuyen (57 years old, former deputy general director), Nguyen Thi Tinh (57 years old, former director of the real estate trading floor), Luu Thi Thuy (34 years old, former director of the real estate trading floor), Pham Thi Thu Hanh (37 years old, former chief accountant), Dinh Phuc Tieu (57 years old, former chief accountant), Doan Thanh Thuy (35 years old, former acting chief accountant). These defendants were all released on bail.

The panel of judges spent more than three hours in the morning checking the presence of victims, witnesses, and related people. In the afternoon of the same day, some lawyers requested to postpone the trial because the three defendants Son, Hanh, and Thuy did not have defense lawyers, and many victims were absent.

After deliberation, the panel of judges determined that although these defendants did not invite lawyers, the maximum penalty as prosecuted by the People's Procuracy is life imprisonment, so they are not eligible to appoint defense lawyers. The court did not accept the request to postpone the trial.

Regarding the absence of many victims, the panel of judges believes that these people were properly summoned, gave statements, and had no legitimate reason for their absence. The trial lasted for many days, so additional summonses may be needed.

The court said that those who had paid money to Housing Group but had not yet filed a complaint could continue to file a complaint. The trial continued and the representative of the People's Procuracy announced the indictment.

Ms. Chau Thi Thu Nga was accused of fraud and property appropriation. Photo: Xuan Hoa.

The prosecution agency accused that the HAIC Import-Export and Housing Development Construction Investment One Member Co., Ltd., led by Mr. Nguyen Van Tuan (Chairman of the Board of Directors and General Director), was assigned and leased land by the State to serve production and business. Among these was land lot B5 (an area of ​​nearly 29,000 m2, in Cau Dien town), located in the resettlement construction project in lots CT1 and HH2.

In 2008, Mr. Tuan and Ms. Nga signed an investment cooperation contract to implement the investment project to build an apartment complex and garden villas on land lot B5, with a total area of ​​over 22,000 m2. The project is expected to include 3 21-storey apartment buildings and 36 garden villas, with a total investment of nearly 280 billion VND.

According to the accusation, the B5 Cau Dien project has not been approved for adjusted planning and has not been granted a construction permit, so it is not allowed to mobilize capital from customers, but Ms. Nga still directed her subordinates to 'sell apartments on paper'.

From January 2009 to July 2013, Ms. Nga authorized the signing of 752 capital mobilization contracts for 726 customers, collecting nearly 380 billion VND. Some customers later withdrew 29 billion VND. The prosecution determined that Ms. Nga had appropriated nearly 350 billion VND.

Speaking to VnExpress, many victims expressed hope that through this trial they will be able to get back their money or houses that were swindled by Ms. Nga. Ms. Nguyen Phuong Hoa (Yen Phu ward, Tay Ho, Hanoi) said she had deposited 800 million VND into the project. Of which, more than 100 million went through a brokerage company, so there was no receipt. "When I deposited, I had a lot of confidence in the project because I thought Ms. Nga was a National Assembly delegate, so there was a solid guarantee," Ms. Hoa said.

Mr. Do Huu Chien (70 years old, living in My Dinh, Nam Tu Liem, Hanoi) said that he learned about the B5 Cau Dien project through a real estate broker. He also deposited more than 800 million VND in the project. "When I found out I was scammed, I went to see Ms. Nga many times to get my money back but failed," said Mr. Chien.

A female victim whose husband works at the National Assembly Office complained: "Who would have thought I would be scammed by my husband's colleague?"

According to VNE