The Hanoi People’s Court will begin a trial on December 12 for the corruption case at the Vietnam National Shipping Lines (Vinalines).
Vinalines’ former Chairman Duong Chi Dung and nine others are charged with deliberately violating State regulations on economic management that caused severe consequences, and misappropriating public property.
The nine others include Mai Van Phuc, former Vinalines General Director; Tran Huu Chieu, former Vinalines Deputy General Director; Bui Thi Bich Loan, former Vinalines chief accountant; Mai Van Khang, member of the Vinalines project management board; Tran Hai Son, former General Director of Vinalines Shipyard Co., Ltd; Le Van Duong from the Vietnam Register Department; Huynh Huu Duc, Le Ngoc Trien and Le Van Lung from Tan Phong Customs Office in central Khanh Hoa province.
Of them, only Khang has been let out on bail. The nine others have been put in temporary detention.
As many as 14 lawyers have registered to protect the legitimate rights and interests of the accused at the upcoming trial.
Files of the case were transferred to the Supreme People’s Court on October 14 by the Investigation Police Agency under the Ministry of Public Security.
According to the Supreme People’s Procuracy’s indictment, under Dung’s leadership, a number of violations were carried out at the State-owned logistics company from 2007-2010, with the most serious one related to the purchase and repair of Floating Dock 83M.
During the negotiation and purchasing process, Dung and the other defendants intentionally breached regulations on investment, bidding, imports and customs, causing losses of almost 367 billion VND.
Dung, Phuc Son and Chieu pocketed more than 28 billion VND in the process.
Dung was arrested on September 4, 2012 following an international manhunt that lasted several months. He had been on the run since May 17 when an indictment and arrest warrant were issued for him.-VNA
