Mr. Dinh La Thang was removed from the position of Politburo member.

The fifth Central Conference today voted to discipline Mr. Dinh La Thang, with over 90% agreeing to warn and remove him from the Politburo.

According to the announcement of the third working day of the 5th Conference of the 12th Party Central Committee, on the morning of May 7, the Party Central Committee worked in the hall to review and discipline officials, chaired by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

Chairman of the Central Inspection Commission Tran Quoc Vuong read the Politburo's report on disciplinary action against Mr. Dinh La Thang, Politburo member, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, former Party Secretary, and former Chairman of the Board of Members of the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PVN). Mr. Dinh La Thang then spoke.

The Party Central Committee has thoroughly discussed and reached a high consensus on the Politburo's submission. The Party Central Committee recognizes that, during his nearly 35 years of work, Mr. Dinh La Thang has made certain contributions to PVN and the agencies and units in which he held leadership positions, but in his position as a member of the 10th Party Central Committee, Party Secretary, and Chairman of the Board of Members of PVN during the 2009-2011 period, he has committed very serious shortcomings and violations.

These were violations in leadership, direction and personnel work, negatively affecting the reputation of the Party Committee, Party organization and Mr. Thang himself, "causing resentment among cadres, Party members and people to the point of having to take disciplinary action according to Party regulations".

"After comprehensive and objective consideration and consideration of many aspects, the Party Central Committee decided to discipline Mr. Dinh La Thang with a warning and remove him from the position of member of the 12th Politburo with a very high percentage of votes (over 90%)," the announcement said.

Mr. Dinh La Thang.

Why was Mr. Dinh La Thang disciplined?

April 27,The Central Inspection Commission proposed that the Politburo and the Central Executive Committee consider and discipline Mr. Dinh La Thang.According to the Inspection Committee, Mr. Dinh La Thang, Politburo member, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, former Party Secretary, former Chairman of the Board of Members of PVN, is responsible as the head for the violations and shortcomings of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee and the Board of Members of PVN in the period 2009-2011.

He was responsible for signing and issuing Resolution No. 233, which led to the Board of Directors of the Group and its member units appointing many illegal bid packages.

Mr. Thang was also accused of violating working regulations when signing the capital contribution agreement in document No. 6934 dated September 18, 2008, between Mr. Dinh La Thang, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Group and Chairman of the Board of Directors of OceanBank. The content of the document stated that the Group contributed 20% or more of capital; assigned staff to participate in management and operation; requested member units to use OceanBank's services, before the Board of Directors of the Group met to agree on the above content.

Mr. Dinh La Thang is also responsible for issuing Resolution No. 4266 to contribute capital exceeding the prescribed level to OceanBank, contrary to the provisions of the Law on Credit Institutions, causing very serious damage to PVN.

The former Chairman of PVN was also responsible for issuing a number of resolutions and decisions appointing many bid packages with large total values, violating Government decrees; advising the Prime Minister to appoint many bid packages that did not comply with legal regulations.

The Central Inspection Committee stated that Mr. Dinh La Thang approved PVC to be exempted from performance guarantees for contracts with works and projects assigned by the Group for PVC to implement and approved the Petroleum Technical Services Corporation (PTSC) to be exempted from performance guarantees for the design, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract for the Dung Quat Biofuel Plant, violating the 2005 Bidding Law.

Mr. Dinh La Thang is responsible for issuing policies and decisions on scattered and scattered investments; lacking inspection and supervision of project implementation during his tenure as the Group's leader, leading to low investment efficiency; some projects had to stop, delay, postpone progress, and suffer prolonged losses, causing loss, waste, and loss of investment capital, resulting in very serious consequences (including the Dinh Vu Polyester Fiber Factory Project and biofuel projects).

According to VNE