Appeal trial of former Minister Vu Huy Hoang

Previously, on December 27, 2021, the trial was opened to consider the defendants' appeal, but was later postponed due to the absence of former Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang due to being an F1 case and having to be quarantined.

In the appeal, former Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang asked the appellate court to reduce the sentence and consider the defendant's entire conduct in the case to re-determine the case.crime.

Former Minister Vu Huy Hoang.

The remaining defendants, Phan Chi Dung (former Head of the Department of Light Industry, Ministry of Industry and Trade), Lam Nguyen Khoi (former Deputy Director of the Department of Planning and Investment of Ho Chi Minh City) and Le Quang Minh (former Head of the Department of Infrastructure Development, Department of Planning and Investment of Ho Chi Minh City) also appealed for a reduced sentence and asked for social reform.

Defendant Khoi is suffering from a serious illness and is appealing in the hope of receiving leniency from the law.

In this case, the parties with related rights and obligations include the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, Saigon Beer-Alcohol-Beverage Corporation (Sabeco), and a number of other individuals.

According to the first instance verdict, from 2012 to 2016, Mr. Vu Huy Hoang directed Ms. Ho Thi Kim Thoa (former Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade) and Mr. Phan Chi Dung to issue documents directing officials at Sabeco to use the right to use the land at 2-4-6 Hai Ba Trung (HCMC) and Sabeco's money to contribute capital with private enterprises to establish Sabeco Pearl, to carry out real estate business projects.

After contributing capital and Sabeco completed the legal procedures for the project, Mr. Hoang did not direct Sabeco to carry out the approved project, but directed the divestment of all capital contribution (capital transfer) of Sabeco at Sabeco Pearl to the private enterprise participating in the joint venture, to complete the transfer of management and use rights of the 6,080m2 land plot at 2-4-6 Hai Ba Trung, which is State property, to the private sector illegally.

The actions of Mr. Vu Huy Hoang and his accomplices at the Ministry of Industry and Trade violated regulations on State capital investment in enterprises and management and use of capital and assets at enterprises, causing damage and loss of more than VND2,713 billion.

During the investigation, Mr. Vu Huy Hoang only admitted his responsibility as the leader and said that the main responsibility belonged to Ms. Ho Thi Kim Thoa (who is on the run and wanted).