Society

Death penalty proposed for fraudulent director

The procuracy side has demanded capital punishment for the former director general of Agribank Financial Leasing Company No 2 (ALCII) in one of the biggest corruption cases to ever go to trial.
The procuracy side has demanded capital punishment for the formerdirector general of Agribank Financial Leasing Company No 2 (ALCII) inone of the biggest corruption cases to ever go to trial.

During the trial which began on November 6 in Ho Chi Minh City, therepresentative from the People’s Procuracy of HCM City proposed thehighest punishment for former ALCII director general Vu Quoc Hao forembezzlement, 15 years in prison for abusing his position and powerwhile on duty and 20 years in prison for deliberately violating Stateregulations on economic management, causing serious outcomes. Thecombined punishment would be the death penalty.

Theprosecutor also proposed the death penalty for Dang Van Hai, former headof Quang Vinh Construction and Trade Co Ltd, on the same charges.

Prison sentences ranging from 6-20 years were proposed for nine other defendants.

Under the alleged violations which occurred from April 2008 to March2009, Vu Quoc Hao and Nguyen Van Tai, the former deputy general directorof ALCII, signed 10 contracts for financial leasing and assetpurchasing and granted loans of hundreds of billions of VND to a numberof companies for asset investment despite ALCII not being allowed togrant credit loans.

The companies, Quang VinhConstruction and Trade Co Ltd, Ham Rong JSC, Xuan Viet Trading andService Co Ltd, and Dai Phu Gia Company, spent the loans on non-fixedassets, so retrieving the money is expected to be difficult, if notimpossible.

The court heard that Hao used his power andposition to sign financial leasing contracts to take 75 billion VND(3.5 million USD) for his personal use. Hao was also accused ofappropriating 4.9 billion VND from a contract signed with Anh PhuongCompany in southern Dong Nai province.

ALCII is amember of the State-run Vietnam Bank for Agriculture and RuralDevelopment located in District 5 of HCM City. Vu Quoc Hao is listed as amember of the board of directors and the general director.

The trial is expected to run until November 20.-VNA
Follow VietnamPlus

See more

A seminar about the rice cropping system and farming management in the Mekong Delta that took place on May 13 in Hanoi. (Photo: VNA)

Research findings support sustainable, low-emission rice farming

Leading domestic and international scientists exchanged views on how to use data gathered from a research project that surveyed 10,000 rice farmers across twelve Mekong Delta provinces between 2022 and 2024 – the largest household-level investigation that IRRI has conducted in 30 years.

An Giang has delivered 2,482 homes to the local residents. (Photo: VNA)

An Giang aims to do away with substandard houses

As of May 13, An Giang broke ground on 2,957 homes under this programme, including 2,453 new constructions and 465 renovations. The province has already completed and delivered 2,482 homes to residents. As much as 215.5 billion VND (8.3 million USD) has been mobilised for the efforts.

Promoting smart and sustainable agriculture is a top priority within Vietnam’s strategy for sustainable agricultural and rural development for the 2021–2030 period, with a vision to 2050. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Austria boost cooperation in smart agriculture

During his visit to BOKU on May 14, the ambassador highlighted that promoting smart and sustainable agriculture is a top priority within Vietnam’s strategy for sustainable agricultural and rural development for the 2021–2030 period, with a vision to 2050.

A Vietnamese delegation visits the historical relic site commemorating late President Ho Chi Minh in the Lao province of Savannakhet. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese in Laos pay tribute to President Ho Chi Minh

The historical relic site commemorating late President Ho Chi Minh in the Lao province of Savannakhet is a popular destination for both Vietnamese and Lao people to visit and learn about President Ho Chi Minh's revolutionary activities.

Artists at the event (Photo: VNA)

President Ho Chi Minh’s 135th birthday marked in Laos

A highlight of the programme was a short play portraying President Ho Chi Minh’s traditional New Year visits to disadvantaged households. The performance illustrated his lifelong concern for the well-being of the people, especially during festive times.

All four Vietnamese students competing in the 59th Mendeleev International Chemistry Olympiad have won medals, including two golds and two silvers. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese students win four medals at Mendeleev Chemistry Olympiad

The two gold medallists are Tran Trung Kien, a 12th grader from the Hanoi-Amsterdam High School for the Gifted, who scored 169.25 points, and Nguyen Ngo Duc, a 12th grader from the Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted in Nghe An province, who scored 151.05 points.

Vietnam’s HDI in 2023 reaches 0.766, ranking 93rd out of 193 countries and territories. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam among countries with high human development: UNDP report

According to the report, which evaluates human development progress based on the Human Development Index (HDI), tracking achievements in health, education and income, Vietnam’s HDI in 2023 reached 0.766, ranking 93rd out of 193 countries and territories. This marked a substantial leap from 0.499 in 1990, representing a 53.5% increase, a notable trajectory of growth over more than three decades.

Houses built for people living along the river in Lam Dat hamlet, Thieu Vu commune, Thieu Hoa district, Thanh Hoa province. (Photo: baothanhhoa.vn)

Thanh Hoa aims to eradicate substandard housing by October 2025

Local officials are required to strengthen on-the-ground inspections and take prompt action to address any signs of stagnation or lack of accountability in executing the campaign. They are also tasked with completing administrative procedures to ensure timely disbursement of financial support to eligible households, avoiding overlap or omission in beneficiary identification.