Two former Ministers of Information and Communications were additionally prosecuted for accepting bribes.

The Ministry of Public Security said it is expanding the investigation into the case.Violations of regulations on management and use of public investment capital causing serious consequencesoccurred at MobiFone Telecommunications Corporation and related units, on April 12, the Investigation Police Agency (Ministry of Public Security) supplemented the decision to prosecute the case for the crime ofTake bribesandBribery,according to articles 354 and 364 of the Penal Code 2015.

From here, the Investigation Police Agency supplemented the decision to prosecute the two former Ministers of Information and Communications Nguyen Bac Son, Truong Minh Tuan, along with Mr. Cao Duy Hai (former General Director of MobiFone), Le Nam Tra (former Chairman of the Board of Members, former General Director of MobiFone) for the crime ofTake bribes,according to clause 4, article 354 of the 2015 Penal Code.

On the same day, April 12, Mr. Pham Nhat Vu (chairman of AVG) was also prosecuted and ordered to be temporarily detained to investigate the accusation of crime.Bribery,according to clause 4, article 365 of the 2015 Penal Code.

Authorities announced that Vo Van Manh (Director of AMAX Investment Consulting and Appraisal LLC) and Hoang Duy Quang (employee of AMAX Investment Consulting and Appraisal LLC) were also prosecuted as "accomplices" in the case. These two people have arrest warrants for temporary detention and search warrants for the crime.Violating regulations on management and use of public investment capital causing serious consequences,according to Article 220 of the 2015 Penal Code.

The Ministry of Public Security's Investigation Police Agency (C03) said it is focusing its forces on investigating and dealing with the suspects and those involved in the case.

Previously, at the end of February, Mr. Nguyen Bac Son and Truong Minh Tuan were prosecuted and temporarily detained by the Ministry of Public Security's Investigation Police Agency to investigate the crime.Violating regulations on management and use of public investment capital causing serious consequences,according to clause 3, article 220 of the 2015 Penal Code.

The Government Inspectorate determined that MobiFone's purchase of AVG was a very serious economic violation. The project had a total investment of VND8,900 billion, however, MobiFone's violations, violations of regulations, and lack of responsibility led to the risk of serious damage to the State's capital in this enterprise of about VND7,006 billion... The first responsibility belongs to the Ministry of Information and Communications.

In connection with the case, authorities have prosecuted more than 10 people, including two former ministers; Mr. Cao Duy Hai, Mr. Le Nam Tra, Mr. Pham Nhat Vu (chairman of AVG) and Ms. Pham Thi Phuong Anh (former deputy general director), and Pham Dinh Trong (48 years old, former head of the Department of Enterprise Management, Ministry of Information and Communications).

Section 4 crimeBriberyProvisions: Anyone who directly or through an intermediary has given or will give to a person holding a position or authority or another person or organization any of the following benefits so that the person holding a position or authority does or does not do something for the benefit or at the request of the person giving the bribe shall be punished from 7 to 12 years if "the bribe is money, property, or other material benefits worth from 500 million to less than one billion VND.

Section 4 crimeTake bribesProvisions: Anyone who abuses his/her position or power to directly or through an intermediary receive or will receive any of the following benefits for himself/herself or for another person or organization to do or not do something for the benefit or at the request of the bribe giver shall be sentenced to 20 years in prison, life imprisonment or death if "the bribe is money, property or other material benefits worth one billion VND or more; causing property damage of 5 billion VND or more".