Society

Former deputy minister jailed for six years in solar power case

The Hanoi People's Court on April 29 sentenced former Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Hoang Quoc Vuong to six years in prison for "abusing position and power while performing duties” under Article 356, Clause 3 of the Penal Code, following a week-long trial concerning irregularities in a solar power case.

Former Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Hoang Quoc Vuong at the court (Photo: VNA)
Former Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Hoang Quoc Vuong at the court (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) - The Hanoi People's Court on April 29 sentenced former Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Hoang Quoc Vuong to six years in prison for "abusing position and power while performing duties” under Article 356, Clause 3 of the Penal Code, following a week-long trial concerning irregularities in a solar power case.

The court also imposed a six-year sentence on former head of the Electricity and Renewable Energy Authority under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) Phuong Hoang Kim for the same offence. Ten other defendants received prison terms ranging from three to six years.

Three companies profiting from the defendants' violations were ordered to repay substantial sums to Vietnam Electricity (EVN). Specifically, the Licogi 16 Ninh Thuan Investment Renewable Energy JSC must return over 99 billion VND (3.96 million USD), the Thuan Nam Solar Power Co., Ltd. more than 944 billion VND, and the Loc Ninh 3 Energy JSC over 209 billion VND.

The court suggested that relevant ministries, agencies, and Ninh Thuan provincial authorities review the implementation of the Prime Minister’s Decision No.13 on incentives for solar power development in Vietnam. The goal is to issue timely guidance or propose legal amendments in accordance with the law.

According to the Hanoi People’s Procuracy, wrongdoings in the Thuan Nam solar power project are grave, undermining the integrity of state operations.

Vuong was found to have manipulated the drafting of Decision No. 13 to expand eligibility for the preferential electricity price of 9.35 US cents/kWh, enabling unauthorised projects to benefit.

In August 2018, the Government issued Resolution No. 115/NQ-CP outlining special mechanisms to support Ninh Thuan’s socio-economic development. The resolution specified that solar projects with a combined capacity of 2,000 MW, approved by the PM, would qualify for preferential pricing until the end of 2020.

Tasked with drafting Decision No. 13, the MIT, under Vuong’s direction, allegedly expanded the scope of beneficiaries, allowing two ineligible solar power plants to receive the preferential rate. This caused EVN to incur losses exceeding 1.043 trillion VND./.

VNA
#Hanoi People's Court #former Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Hoang Quoc Vuong Ho Chi Minh City
Follow VietnamPlus

Related News

See more

Delegates and students pose for a commemorative photo. (Photo: baocantho.com.vn)

Four more Can Tho schools earn French education accreditation

The recognition of six schools under the Label FrancEducation programme is expected to create momentum for expanding education cooperation between French and Can Tho institutions, contributing to human resources development and friendship between the two countries.

A seminar at the programme (Photo: VNA)

Event promotes inclusion, empowerment for youth with disabilities

A key feature of the programme will be the dialogue “The Inspirers – Family Support on the Journey of Resilience”, where exemplary families and inspirational figures will share stories of overcoming adversity and spread messages of compassion, understanding and community responsibility in building an inclusive and humane society.

UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam Pauline Tamesis (Photo: VNA)

South–South cooperation promotes rights, justice for women and girls

UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam Pauline Tamesis commended Vietnam’s sustained commitment to gender equality, noting advances in budgeting, land use, social insurance and domestic violence prevention under the recent review of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

Party General Secretary To Lam presents Nhan Dan newspaper with the first-class Labour Order on March 11. (Photo: VNA)

Nhan Dan newspaper must act as ideological vanguard, shield, information sensor: Party chief

In a keynote address at a ceremony in Hanoi marking the 75th anniversary of the newspaper’s first issue on March 11, General Secretary Lam highlighted its more than seven decades of evolution while maintaining its role as the Party’s sharp ideological weapon, an effective information and communication channel for Party committees and authorities at all levels, and a trusted platform for Party members and people.

A poster celebrating the Election Day (Photo: VNA)

Final preparations underway for Election Day

In Hanoi, local authorities have increased the dissemination of election-related information through community loudspeaker systems, information boards, official websites and verified social media pages, helping officials, Party members and residents better understand their rights and responsibilities as voters.

NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man inspects a constituency in Dong Nai province. (Photo: VNA)

Dong Nai works to ensure workers cast vote on Election Day

With the utmost regard for citizens’ electoral rights and responsibilities, and in a spirit of creating optimal conditions for workers, especially those employed in industrial parks and non-state enterprises, the provincial leader has requested that no overtime be scheduled during voting hours.

Zambia's Minister of Agriculture Reuben Mtolo Phiri (first, left), learns about the OM19 rice variety grown at Tien Thuan cooperative in Thanh Quoi commune,, Can Tho city (Photo: VNA)

Can Tho shares agricultural transformation experience with Zambia

Rice production remains Can Tho’s key industry. Alongside maintaining production, Can Tho has encouraged value chain linkages among farmers, cooperatives and businesses, while accelerating the application of science and technology, mechanisation and digital transformation in farming.

Staff members of the Hanoi Public Administrative Service Centre handle administrative procedures for local residents. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi: 95% of administrative procedures to be handled from home

The plan targets that at least 80% of administrative procedures under the city’s authority will be provided as fully online public services, while more than 95% of applications will be received and processed entirely online. By June 30, 2026, about 80% of administrative procedures are expected to be restructured based on integrated data systems, with the figure rising to 95% by the end of the year.

Delegates at the SEAN Future Forum NextGen Workshop 2026 held in Jakarta, Indonesia on March 9 (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam contributes youth perspectives to AFF NextGen initiative

The ambassador expressed confidence that fresh perspectives, innovative thinking and lessons drawn from the workshop will be proposed to AFF 2026, representing the voice of the younger generation in shaping ASEAN’s future in line with their aspirations.