Former Vice President of Ho Chi Minh City Tran Vinh Tuyen appeared in court and asked to reduce the punishment

Today (May 11), the High People’s Court in Ho Chi Minh City opened an appellate hearing of the case “Violation of regulations on management and use of property, causing loss, waste, and embezzlement of property” that occurred in Vietnam. Saigon Agriculture Corporation (SAGRI).

Before that, at the first instance hearing in December 2021, the People’s Court of Ho Chi Minh City sentenced defendant Le Tan Hung (former General Director of Saigon Agriculture Corporation – SAGRI) for 11 years for the crime of “Violating regulations on regulations management and use of state assets, causing loss and waste”, 14 years of “Embezzlement of property”. The total penalty for both crimes is 25 years in prison.

Also for these two crimes, Nguyen Thi Thuy (former chief accountant of SAGRI) was sentenced to 9 and 11 years, respectively. The total penalty for both crimes is 20 years in prison.

Former Vice President of Ho Chi Minh City Tran Vinh Tuyen, defendant Tran Trong Tuan (former director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction) were each sentenced to 6 years each for the crime of “violating regulations on management and use of state property.” causing loss and waste”.

The other defendants were also sentenced to three years in prison, but suspended, up to eight years in prison.

After the first-instance hearing, Mr. Tran Vinh Tuyen, Le Tan Hung and 5 other accomplices filed an appeal to reduce the punishment and request a review of the first-instance judgment.

Especially, after making an appeal, Mr. Ho Van Ngon (former deputy general director of SAGRI) passed away due to a serious illness. Mr. Ngon was sentenced to 5 years in prison

According to the first-instance judgment, the housing project in Quarter 4, Phuoc Long B ward, District 9 (HCMC) must comply with the law on management and use of state capital invested in it. for production and business activities at the enterprise, must conduct price appraisal, determine the transfer value according to the market and other relevant laws.

Knowing that, but when the project has only built 80% of the technical infrastructure, has not fulfilled its financial obligations to the State, has not yet met the conditions for transfer, has not yet had a plan or plan to divest capital at the project. The project was approved, Mr. Tran Vinh Tuyen still signed the decision approving the transfer of the above project to Phong Phu Corporation.

This decision of Mr. Tran Vinh Tuyen created a condition for Mr. Le Tan Hung and his accomplices to carry out the procedure for transferring the project in contravention of the law when not conducting price appraisal, determining the transfer value at market price. schools, causing damage of 672 billion VND.

In addition to the illegal transfer of the project, in 2016, Mr. Le Tan Hung also directed his subordinates to make 10 false records for officials and employees to visit and learn experiences in 16 countries to appropriate 13 billion dong.

The investigating agency determined that the money appropriated on Mr. Hung was used for personal purposes and for the benefit of his group at SAGRI. When the inspection team checked, Mr. Hung continued to direct the staff under his authority to discuss and reach an agreement with individuals in two travel companies, Hoa Binh International Travel Service Trading Co., Ltd and Youth Tourism Joint Stock Company. volunteered to commit fraudulent acts.

Thanh Phuong