Sentencing of 54 defendants in the 'rescue flight' case today

Inthe "rescue flight" case, 54 defendants were brought to trial for the crimes of Bribery Brokerage, Bribery Giving, Bribery Receiving, Fraudulent Appropriation of Property and Abuse of Position and Power while Performing Official Duty.

In the debate, the representative of the People's Procuracy stated the impeachment views for each group of charges.

The representative of the People's Procuracy's opinion on the group of defendants who committed the crime of receiving bribes:

The purpose and meaning of the flights are very good. However, the good policy has been tarnished by some corrupt officials, losing prestige with the people and international friends. Some defendants in the Bribery group have disregarded everything, turning the need for people's safety into an opportunity to make money for themselves.

Specifically, it has harassed, caused difficulties, created a mechanism of asking and giving, forcing business representatives to pay grease money and bribes to get flight licenses.

Therefore, there must be severe punishment, commensurate with the nature and level of the crime committed by the defendants receiving bribes.

However, it is also necessary to consider reducing the sentences for the defendants because: The time of the flights to bring citizens back to the country does not have clear regulations on procedures. This is also the reason and loophole for the defendants to commit crimes; some defendants did not proactively ask for money, but because they could not avoid temptation, they committed crimes.

The representative of the People's Procuracy's opinion on the group of defendants who took advantage of their positions and powers while performing official duties:

In 2020 and 2021, the Covid-19 epidemic situation in Malaysia and around the world was extremely complicated. In March 2020, the Malaysian Government announced the closure of the border, leading to the situation of many international students, Vietnamese citizens, and workers being stranded.

More than 2,000 Vietnamese citizens who have completed their prison terms are in waiting camps, putting great pressure on the Malaysian government. The Malaysian government has sent many documents requesting the Vietnamese government to repatriate the released prisoners by any means.

Faced with that situation, despite having no funds, the Embassy proactively reported to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ask for permission from the Government for the Embassy to organize citizen protection to bring prisoners from many places across Malaysia back to the country on rescue flights using voluntary funds from these people.

Although the actions of the defendants Tran Viet Thai (former Vietnamese Ambassador to Malaysia), Nguyen Le Ngoc Anh (former official of the Vietnamese Embassy in Malaysia), Nguyen Hoang Linh (former official of the Vietnamese Embassy in Malaysia), and Dang Minh Phuong (former accountant of the Vietnamese Embassy in Malaysia) have been prosecuted and tried for the crime of Abusing position and power while performing official duties, it is also necessary to evaluate and consider part of the cause and circumstances of the defendants' crimes to partially reduce their sentences.

On the other hand, in this case of complicity, the defendants Tran Viet Thai, Nguyen Le Ngoc Anh, and Nguyen Hoang Linh committed the crime as accomplices.

In which, defendant Tran Viet Thai is the leader, has full decision-making power, so must bear primary responsibility for the consequences that occurred. Defendants Ngoc Anh, Hoang Linh, and Minh Phuong are subordinates, who actively committed the crime.

Therefore, there needs to be specific differentiation when deciding on the penalty for each defendant.

The representative of the People's Procuracy's opinion on the group of defendants giving bribes and brokering bribes:

The representative of the People's Procuracy noted that, with the above groups of crimes, partly from the purpose of seeking profits and creating jobs for workers in difficult circumstances due to the epidemic; the awareness of businesses in accompanying the State in carrying out flights to bring as many citizens back to the country as possible.

However, due to the difficulties, demands, requests, harassment, and creation of a mechanism of asking and giving by some subjects in competent State agencies, they had to pay money to get approval for flight licenses.

Therefore, the People's Court is requested to consider and correctly assess the causes, conditions and circumstances in order to impose appropriate punishment on the bribe giver.

The indictment of the representative of the People's Procuracy against the group of defendants who swindled and appropriated property:

By deceitful means, the defendants Tran Minh Tuan (Director of Thai Hoa Construction Joint Stock Company) and Hoang Van Hung (former investigator) provided false and untrue information, making the victims trust and give them money.

The defendants' crimes occurred during an epidemic, therefore, a strict sentence is needed to serve as a deterrent and general education.

Before that, given the right to have the last word, the defendants all expressed regret, pain, and sorrow, and asked the panel of judges to give themselves and the other defendants a lenient sentence, so they could have a chance to start their lives over.

Defendant Hoang Van Hung still asserts that he was wrongly accused and is willing to risk his life to regain his innocence.