The court initiated additional charges of embezzlement against Mr. Trinh Xuan Thanh.
On the afternoon of March 15, the High People's Court in Hanoi decided to prosecute suspect Trinh Xuan Thanh - who is wanted internationally - for embezzlement of property while serving as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Vietnam Oil and Gas Construction Joint Stock Corporation (PVC).
In the verdict against the defendants in the case of fraudulently selling land to nearly 500 customers in the Thanh Ha A urban area project (Hanoi), the High People's Court in Hanoi determined that suspect Trinh Xuan Thanh was involved and announced the decision to prosecute him. Mr. Thanh was prosecuted by the court for embezzlement of property.
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| Suspect Trinh Xuan Thanh on Interpol's international wanted list. Photo: Ba Do |
The court also announced the decision to prosecute the following men: Nguyen Ngoc Sinh (former general director of Vietnam Oil and Gas Power Real Estate Joint Stock Company), Dao Duy Phong (former chairman of the Board of Directors), Le Hoa Binh (chairman of the Board of Directors of 1/5 Construction and Service Joint Stock Company), Nguyen Thi Kim Thoa (Deputy general director and Chief Accountant of 1/5 Construction and Service Joint Stock Company), Thai Kieu Huong (Deputy general director) and Huynh Nguyen Quoc Duy (freelance worker).
Before this case, Mr. Thanh was a defendant in the case of "intentionally violating state regulations on economic management causing serious consequences" that occurred at PVC and in September 2016 was prosecuted by the Investigation Police Agency (C46, Ministry of Public Security).
Mr. Thanh was determined to have fled to Europe and was wanted internationally. The leaders of the Ministry of Public Security expressed their determination to "pursue to the end" this suspect.
On September 15, 2016, the Investigation Police Agency (C46, Ministry of Public Security) prosecuted Mr. Trinh Xuan Thanh (50 years old) for intentionally violating State regulations on economic management, causing serious consequences, to investigate the loss of nearly 3,300 billion VND at the Vietnam Oil and Gas Construction Corporation (PVC) during his time as a leader there. After leaving this enterprise, Mr. Thanh became Vice Chairman of Hau Giang province. On the afternoon of September 16, 2016, the Central Inspection Committee went to Hau Giang to execute the decision to expel Mr. Thanh from the Party, but he was absent. That same evening, the Ministry of Public Security issued an international arrest warrant for him. Mr. Thanh is said to have left Vietnam at the end of July when he sent a request to the Hau Giang Provincial Party Committee for leave from July 25 to 29, 2016. On August 19, he sent a second request for a month off (August 3 to September 2) to go abroad for medical treatment and his whereabouts have been unknown since then. In October 2016, Standing member of the Party Secretariat Dinh The Huynh said: "While considering disciplinary action for expulsion from the Party, Thanh quietly crossed the border, escaped abroad, and then flew to Europe." On December 6, 2016, in a meeting with voters, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong emphasized that Vietnam will coordinate with other countries to "arrest" Mr. Thanh. |
According to VNE