Ut 'bald' sentenced to 12 years in prison, 1 defendant released

After 2 days of trial of Ut "troc" and his accomplices, the People's Court sentenced: Dinh Ngoc He (born 1971, aka Ut "troc", former army lieutenant colonel, Deputy General Director of Thai Son Company): 10 years in prison for the crime of Abusing position while performing official duties; 2 years in prison for the crime of Using fake documents of an organization. Total sentence: 12 years in prison.

Tran Van Lam (born 1977, General Director of Thai Son Investment Development Joint Stock Company): 5 years in prison for the crime of Abusing position and power while performing official duties.

Bui Van Tiep (born 1957, former Commander of Division F367, Air Defense - Air Force): 24 months suspended sentence for Abusing position and power while performing official duties, 48 ​​months probation.

Tran Xuan Son (born in 1986, former Director of the Binh Duong branch of Thai Son Investment Development Joint Stock Company): 18 months of suspended imprisonment for the crime of Abusing power while performing official duties, probation for 36 months. Defendant Son was released in court.

Phung Danh Tham (born 1965, Colonel, former General Director of Thai Son Corporation, Ministry of National Defense): 24 months of non-custodial reform for the crime of Lack of responsibility causing serious consequences.

He was banned from holding any business management positions for four years.

Jury's opinion

Defendant Dinh Ngoc He did not admit to committing the crime. However, the other defendants admitted to committing the crime. The statements of these defendants and related people showed that the prosecution of defendant He was well-founded.

He's behavior of leasing and mortgaging cars also led to complaints, affecting the military's reputation.

There is sufficient basis to determine the defendants' acts of abusing their positions and powers while performing their official duties. The prosecution of the defendants by the People's Procuracy is well-founded, the right person, the right crime, and the right law. The defense of the defendant He's lawyers has no basis to be accepted.

Defendant He also used fake degrees to fill out records and make appointments against regulations. In court, the defendant admitted his actions.

Defendant Tham managed the soldiers under his authority but was lax in management, leading to a failure to control Thai Son Company and Dinh Ngoc He's work, allowing He to give the car to relatives and acquaintances to use, allowing military personnel He to sign contracts to send fake gasoline to avoid penalties for poor quality gasoline. Defendant Tham's actions constituted the crime of Lack of responsibility causing serious consequences.

Defendant He must be held responsible for the aggravating circumstance of committing two or more crimes. It is recommended that the competent authority revoke the medals and orders awarded to defendant He.

The other defendants had no aggravating circumstances. The panel also considered mitigating circumstances for the defendants.

The panel of judges affirmed that the defendants' actions caused a loss of more than 1.4 billion, seriously affecting the reputation of the army and the State, and must be severely punished.

Regarding defendant Tham, the panel of judges found that the nature of the defendant's crime was serious, but the defendant had many achievements and contributions, committed the crime for the first time, had a clear place of residence... so there was no need to isolate him from society.