Former Deputy Defence Minister under investigation hinh anh 1Former Deputy Minister of National Defence Nguyen Van Hien (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA)
– Former Deputy Minister of National Defence and former Commander of the Vietnam People’s Navy Nguyen Van Hien is being investigated for “lack of responsibility, causing serious consequences” in accordance with Clause 3, Article 360 of the 2015 Penal Code.

The Criminal Investigation Agency under the Ministry of National Defence and the Central Military Procuracy on October 22 issued a decision to place Hien under house arrest, according to the ministry.

The investigation is part of a fraud and land management case involving Dinh Ngoc He, alias Ut troc, former chairman and general director of Thai Son Development and Investment JSC.

Ngoc He was sentenced to 10 years in prison by the Central Military Court for “abusing position and power while performing official duties”, and another two years for “using falsified documents of agencies and organisations”.

Earlier, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc decided to impose disciplinary measures against Hien. Accordingly, he was stripped of his status as former Commander of the Vietnam People’s Navy.

The Politburo has also stripped Hien of the following job titles: member of the Party Committee of Central Military Commission for 2005-2010 and member of the Party Committee of the Vietnam People’s Navy for 2005-2010 (including the titles of Vice Secretary, member of the Standing Board and member of the Party Committee). 

According to the Politburo, during his time serving as Vice Secretary of the Party Committee and Commander of the Vietnam People’s Navy, Hien was responsible for serious violations and mistakes of the Standing Board of the Party Committee of the Vietnam People’s Navy regarding the management and use of defence land under the management of the navy.  

Hien was also responsible for violating legal stipulations on land management and use, and construction on ten plots of defence land.
He violated the principle of centralized democracy and regulations of the Party Committee of the Vietnam People’s Navy, and showed slack leadership and supervision. 

Competent agencies said Hien’s violations and mistakes were very serious, causing large losses to the State and the army, and resulting in a number of officers and Party members in the naval force being prosecuted and investigated, thus adversely affecting the reputation of the Party, army and Hien himself./.


VNA