Nguyen Bac Son (L) and Truong Minh Tuan (Source: portal of the Ministry of Public Security) Hanoi (VNA) – Two former Ministersof Information and Communications, Nguyen Bac Son and his successor Truong MinhTuan, have been accused of receiving a large amount of bribes in the case ofMobiFone purchasing 95 percent of shares of the Audio VisualGlobal JSC (AVG).
The Supreme People’s Procuracy announced on September 3 thatit had received a document from the Investigation Police Department under theMinistry of Public Security presenting the outcomes of investigation into thecase and requesting the prosecution of those two former ministers along with 12other suspects on several charges.
Accordingto the investigation outcomes, Son received 3 millionUSD from the then AVG Chairman Pham Nhat Vu after approving the illegalinvestment in the deal, which caused a loss of over 6.47 trillion VND (289.82million USD) to the State.
It concluded that Son was the headmaster of the case, makinguse of his position and power to instruct his subordinates to handle the dealbetween Mobifone and AVG and issue decision to approve investment in violationof regulations.
The police proposed prosecuting Son (who has retired), Tuan (whowas removed from his position as MIC minister and 11 other suspects including adirector of the MIC’s Department of Enterprises Management, eight executivesand employees of MobiFone and two of AMAX investmentconsultancy and valuation company, on the charge of “violating regulationson the management and use of public capital causing serious consequences” under Article 220, Clause 4 of the 2015 CriminalCode.
Besides, the two former ministers and two senior MobiFoneofficials – Cao Duy Hai and Le Nam Tra, were also accused of receiving moneyfrom Vu after assisting with the quick completion of the deal at Vu’s request.
The 14th suspect, former AVG Chairman Pham Nhat Vuwas accused of giving bribes.
The AVG deal happened inDecember 2015. As the Government began to investigate the deal lastyear, Mobifone and AVG decided to terminate the transfer of 344.66 millionshares and refund each other the amount received under the agreement.
The Government Inspectorate however said thatanyone responsible for the deal “must bear their due responsibility” despiteits being cancelled.-VNA
VNA
