The appeal hearing for Duong Chi Dung, former Chairman of the VietnamNational Shipping Lines (Vinalines), and his eight co-defendants, onApril 24 entered its fourth day, focusing on clarifying several newdetails in the case.
During the day, Dung’s allegedaccomplices were questioned about their role in the case in order tomake clear the losses caused by their poor management.
Representatives from the Vietnam Registry also answered queries fromlawyers and the Court of Appeals on specialised issues relating to theacts of customs officials on trial.
The HanoiPeople’s Court on December 16, 2013 sentenced Dung and former VinalinesGeneral Director Mai Van Phuc to death for embezzlement. Besides, theirviolations of State regulations on economic management were met with18-year jail sentences.
Eight otherdefendants from Vinalines, the Vietnam Registry and Van Phong CustomsOffice in the central province of Khanh Hoa were sentenced to prisonterms ranging from four to 22 years. Nine of the defendants haveappealed the Hanoi court’s verdict.
According tothe indictment issued at the court, during 2007-2008, Dung and hisfellow defendants violated regulations on investment, bidding andcustoms procedures for import and export. The malpractice caused lossesof 366.9 billion VND (17.2 million USD) to the State budget.
The trial will continue on April 28.-VNA