Major corruption case at Vinashinlines: Giang Kim Dat sentenced to death

Two defendants Tran Van Liem and Giang Kim Dat were sentenced to death in the corruption case at Vinashinlines.

After a period of deliberation, on the afternoon of February 22, the Hanoi Court issued a first-instance verdict on the corruption case that occurred at Vinashinlines Ocean Shipping Company Limited.

The court of first instance stated that at the trial, the defendants changed their statements compared to the time at the investigation agency. However, despite changing their statements, the defendants did not present any new evidence.

Based on the defendants' statements, evidence, and case files, the panel of judges found that in this case, Tran Van Liem - former General Director of Vinashinlines was the leader.

As CEO, Tran Van Liem manages the company in all areas. Liem directed Giang Kim Dat to negotiate the purchase of ships. Tran Van Liem's ​​signature is the final decision to approve the purchase of ships. If the former CEO does not agree, Dat cannot purchase the 3 ships. Giang Kim Dat reported the purchase and agreed price to Tran Van Liem.

According to the court, Giang Kim Dat - former acting head of Vinashinlines' business department - played an active role as an accomplice. During his time as acting head of the business department, Dat was assigned to manage 8 ships.

Dat directly negotiated to enjoy the difference in the price of renting ships and the commission for buying 3 ships. To receive this money, Dat told his father, Giang Van Hien, to open many accounts at 4 banks to receive money from foreign partners and avoid detection by authorities.

Former chief accountant Tran Van Khuong was determined by the court to be an accomplice. The defendant carried out Tran Van Liem's ​​instructions to omit the commission from the purchase of three ships from the accounting books. Khuong knew clearly about the commission from the purchase of Vinashinlines' ships but did not include it in the company's final accounts or record it in Vinashinlines' business books.

Regarding Giang Van Hien, he opened foreign currency accounts to receive illegal money. The defendant directly opened 22 foreign currency accounts at 4 banks to receive more than 260 billion VND transferred from foreign partners.

The defendant was aware that the purpose of his son’s request to open accounts at different banks was to avoid inspection and control by Vietnamese authorities. The defendant was also aware that the money that foreign companies deposited into his account was illegal money but still actively carried it out.

Giang Kim Dat and the defendants in the dock.

Regarding the amount of property embezzled, the court has sufficient grounds to determine that defendant Tran Van Liem embezzled more than 3.1 billion VND. In addition to 40,000 USD, the embezzled money was also converted into real estate and cars that Giang Kim Dat used illegal money in his account to buy for the former CEO.

The court determined that defendant Giang Kim Dat had appropriated more than 255 billion VND. Defendant Tran Van Khuong was determined to have appropriated more than 1.7 billion VND (110,000 USD).

The defendant, thanks to his father, Giang Van Hien, used the money that Giang Kim Dat embezzled to buy 40 real estate properties and buy and sell cars 13 times.

The court affirmed that the defendant's testimony in the dock had changed compared to the time at the investigation agency, but there was no basis for accepting it. Regarding the defense of the lawyers, the court affirmed that there was no basis.

The first instance court sentenced defendant Tran Van Liem to death, defendant Giang Kim Dat to death, and defendant Tran Van Khuong to life in prison for embezzlement. Defendant Giang Van Hien was sentenced to 12 years in prison for money laundering.

The sentence imposed was higher than the one proposed by the People's Procuracy. Previously, in the debate, the People's Procuracy proposed sentencing Tran Van Liem to life in prison, Giang Kim Dat to death, Tran Van Khuong to 20 years in prison, and Giang Van Hien to 8-9 years in prison.

The defendants are responsible for compensating the embezzled amount of more than 160 billion VND to the Shipbuilding Industry Corporation.

According to the indictment, during his time as Vinashinlines' leader, Tran Van Liem and his subordinates made agreements with partners to receive commissions in ship purchases, receive price differences outside of ship rental contracts... to embezzle 260 billion VND.

To receive this money, defendant Giang Van Hien - Giang Kim Dat's father opened 22 foreign currency accounts at 4 banks. Vinashinlines' partners transferred money into the accounts 92 times.

The prosecution agency said that in addition to dividing the cash, the defendants also used the misappropriated money to buy real estate and expensive personal vehicles. The total amount of misappropriated money was more than 260 billion VND./.

According to VOV