Today, former Minister Vu Huy Hoang appeared in court with his accomplices.

In his appeal, former Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang asked the appellate court to reduce his sentence and consider all of the defendant's actions in the case to re-determine his crime.

The remaining defendants, Phan Chi Dung (former Head of the Department of Light Industry, Ministry of Industry and Trade), Lam Nguyen Khoi (former Deputy Director of the Department of Planning and Investment of Ho Chi Minh City) and Le Quang Minh (former Head of the Department of Infrastructure Development, Department of Planning and Investment of Ho Chi Minh City) also appealed for a reduced sentence and asked for social reform.

Defendant Khoi is suffering from a serious illness and is appealing in the hope of receiving leniency from the law.

The appellate panel consists of three members, with Judge Vo Hong Son presiding over the trial. The remaining judges include Mr. Dang Van Hung and Mr. Vu Minh Tuan.

Representatives of the Hanoi High People's Procuracy attending the trial included senior prosecutors Vu Quang Huy, Vu Hong Diep and Bui Ngoc Tan.

Lawyers Nguyen Huy Thiep and Dao Bich Thuy defended Mr. Vu Huy Hoang. Defendant Phan Chi Dung was defended by lawyers Bui Huy Tien and Bui Thu Giang.

Attorney Dang Hoai Vu (Dang Hoai Vu and Associates Law Office) defended Mr. Lam Nguyen Khoi.

Former Minister Vu Huy Hoang.

The appellate court summoned parties with related rights and obligations, including representatives of the Ministry of Industry and Trade; Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, Me Linh Square Investment Joint Stock Company; and Saigon Beer-Alcohol-Beverage Joint Stock Company.

In addition, the appellate court also summoned a number of other individuals.

Previously, in April, the Hanoi People's Court brought to trial a case of violations of regulations on management and use of State assets causing loss, waste and violations of regulations on land management occurring at the Ministry of Industry and Trade and Ho Chi Minh City.

The first instance court sentenced Mr. Vu Huy Hoang to 11 years in prison for the crime of "Violations of regulations on management and use of state assets causing loss and waste".

Prosecuted for the same crime as the former Minister, defendant Phan Chi Dung was sentenced to 9 years in prison.

Mr. Lam Nguyen Khoi received 4 years and 6 months in prison and Le Quang Minh received 3 years and 6 months in prison for the same crime of "Violating regulations on land management".

According to the first instance verdict, the defendants' actions in the Sabeco case were particularly serious.

The defendants are leaders and key officials of the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee; assigned to manage the Industry and Trade sector nationwide and manage and develop the socio-economy in the largest city in the country.

However, they committed crimes for a long time, intentionally violated regulations on State asset management and violated regulations on land management.

From there, the right to manage and use the land at 2-4-6 Hai Ba Trung, which is State property, was transferred to private property, causing great damage to the State of more than 2,713 billion VND.

The first instance verdict stated that Mr. Vu Huy Hoang is a qualified person with expertise in state economic management, has held many positions, regularly attends Government meetings, and is responsible to the Prime Minister, the Government and the National Assembly for the management of the Industry and Trade sector, including Sabeco.

The defendant clearly knew that the Government had Resolutions 94 and 26, requiring State Corporations not to invest outside their industries, but did not comply, but instead agreed to let Sabeco enter into a joint venture.

Mr. Phan Chi Dung was identified as an active accomplice in the case.

Defendant Lam Nguyen Khoi, without consulting with the relevant authorities, under the direction of Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyen Huu Tin, signed a document advising and proposing to the City People's Committee to approve Sabeco Pearl as the investor and fulfill its financial obligations.

The first instance judgment stated that this document was the basis for the departments to advise and propose to the leaders of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee to illegally lease land to Sabeco Pearl.