Former Oceanbank CEO 'takes care of customers, not paying extra interest'

The trial of the Oceanbank case on the afternoon of March 6 continued the questioning of the defendants with the participation of the Procuracy and lawyers.

Defendant Nguyen Xuan Son (left cover) and defendant Ha Van Tham at court on the afternoon of March 6 - Photo: Than Hoang

Responding to questions from the representative of the Procuracy holding the right to prosecute in court, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Son, former General Director of Oceanbank, continued to affirm that during the time he held the position of General Director, the bank did not pay interest outside of regulations.

Customer care is different from extra interest?

However, when the prosecutor asked, “Did the defendant participate in customer care and business support activities?”, Mr. Son admitted that he “participated in the bank’s customer development program, especially important customers, at business expense.”

Mr. Son said that “customer care” and “extra interest payments” are two different concepts. According to the defendant, when he left his position at the Oil and Gas Group and became the General Director of Oceanbank, he was assigned to be in charge of internal control and risk management, not in charge of capital mobilization.

Mr. Son said that when he moved to Oceanbank, it was a small bank with a lack of liquidity, so he proposed a number of support programs to develop the business network. “Customer care cannot be said to be an extra interest expense. Customer care includes many programs such as marketing, image building, branding, these are things that the whole world does.”

The lawyers continued to question Mr. Ha Van Tham to confront the information Mr. Son provided. Mr. Tham said that Oceanbank had “customer care programs” as Mr. Son confessed.

When the lawyer asked, "If other banks have a customer care center, do you feel hurt when the investigation agency says that you are not taking care of customers but are paying extra interest?"

"The defendant of course feels heartbroken," said Ha Van Tham.

Defendant Nguyen Van Hoan answers lawyer's question - Photo: Than Hoang

Collateral for 500 billion loan is not enough

Responding to the question of the People's Procuracy, Mr. Nguyen Van Hoan, former Deputy General Director of Oceanbank admitted that he was the person who directly signed the contracts to lend 500 billion to Trung Dung Company. Mr. Hoan added that due to the lack of some invoices and documents that needed to secure assets, he had to sign a commitment document between 3 parties including Dai Tin Bank, Oceanbank and Trung Dung Company.

“Is Oceanbank lending to Trung Dung with such legal documents and collateral sufficient and correct?” the prosecutor continued to ask. “The defendant feels that the collateral is not sufficient,” Mr. Hoan replied.

Responding to questions from lawyers, Mr. Ha Van Tham said that when agreeing to disburse the 500 billion VND loan, he requested Dai Tin Bank to freeze Trung Dung Company's account. "This is also the defendant's promise to Mr. Pham Cong Danh. The disbursement is accompanied by the condition that Dai Tin Bank must freeze Trung Dung Company's assets to help Dai Tin balance its liquidity," Mr. Tham said.

The lawyers asked more about the 69 billion VND received from the toll collection service through BSC company. Mr. Tham said he used this money for Mr. Son to "take care of customers" who were major customers of Oceanbank, a member of the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group.

Responding to questions from lawyers, Ms. Vu Thi Thu Thao, authorized representative of Construction Bank, said that the 500 billion VND is no longer in Trung Dung Company's account at Construction Bank. This amount has been settled into 5 loan contracts.

Regarding the document of the three parties committing to freeze the assets of Trung Dung Company, Ms. Thao said that Construction Bank did not receive any official document but only received a photocopy. Ms. Thao said that Construction Bank has no responsibility related to this amount of 500 billion./.

According to tuoitre