Chairman of Hung Thinh Group prosecuted in illegal titanium ore mining case worth over 1.5 trillion VND.
The Supreme People's Procuratorate has just issued an indictment prosecuting 28 defendants in the case of "Violation of regulations on research, exploration and exploitation of natural resources," "Violation of accounting regulations causing serious consequences," "Smuggling," "Receiving bribes," "Abusing position and power while performing official duties," "Tax evasion," and "Giving bribes" that occurred at Hung Thinh Mineral Investment Group Joint Stock Company (abbreviated as Hung Thinh Group) and some related units.
The Procuratorate has indicted defendant Phan Thanh Muon (Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hung Thinh Group) on charges of "Violating regulations on research, exploration and exploitation of natural resources," "Violating accounting regulations causing serious consequences," and "Giving bribes."
The defendant Huang ShangXia (also known as "Huang Shang Xia," a Chinese national and employee of Guangxi Liufeng Mining Company) has been prosecuted for two crimes: "Smuggling" and "Violation of accounting regulations causing serious consequences."
The defendant, Do Tien Hai (Director of Hung Ha Co., Ltd.), has been prosecuted for two crimes: "Smuggling" and "Bribery".
The defendant, Tran Thi Le Vi Van (self-employed), has been prosecuted for two crimes: "Smuggling" and "Tax evasion".
Defendants Le Van Hung (former customs officer, belonging to the Saigon Port Customs Branch, Area 1) and Phan Thi Xuan Thu (former Deputy Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Binh Thuan province) are being prosecuted for the crime of "receiving bribes".
The two defendants, Le Phong Nam (Chairman of the Board of Directors of Chau Thanh Import-Export Trading Company Limited) and Phung Van Thanh (Director of Chau Thanh Import-Export Trading Company Limited), have been prosecuted for the crime of "smuggling".
In connection with the case, 5 defendants were prosecuted for "Accounting violations causing serious consequences"; 4 defendants were prosecuted for "Abusing position and power while performing official duties" and 1 defendant was prosecuted for "Giving bribes".
In addition, six defendants were prosecuted for "Violating regulations on research, exploration and exploitation of natural resources" and four defendants for "Tax evasion".
According to the indictment, from 2021 to 2024, Phan Thanh Muon and his accomplices at Hung Thinh Group and the Central Central Geological Federation illegally exploited more than 459,981 tons of titanium ore, worth over 1.508 billion VND.
To illegally exploit the ore mine, Phan Thanh Muon bribed Phan Thi Xuan Thu and paid a total of over 1.6 billion VND in thank-you money to several individuals who were members of the 117 Monitoring Team to act against their duties and overlook violations, allowing Hung Thinh Group to continue illegally exploiting the ore.
During the process of selling titanium ore, Phan Thanh Muon agreed to sell to several customers at a price stated in the contract and invoice that was lower than the actual selling price. This was not accounted for in tax reports, concealing revenue and violating accounting regulations, causing tax losses to the State totaling over 50 billion VND.
In this case, defendant Hoang Thuong Ha agreed to purchase ore from Phan Thanh Muon and Song Binh Company at a price stated in the contract and invoice that was lower than the actual purchase price. Subsequently, Ha and his accomplices organized the smuggling of more than 27,997 tons of Ilmenite (not meeting export standards) with a total value of over 3.8 million USD (equivalent to over 95.9 billion VND).
During the process of assisting Ha in smuggling, Do Tien Hai bribed Le Van Hung (a customs officer) with over 8.5 billion VND to alter the inspection samples, conceal and legitimize the illegal export of ore. In addition, the case also involved tax evasion at Rang Dong Joint Stock Company.