The appeal hearing for Duong Chi Dung, former Chairman of the VietnamNational Shipping Lines (Vinalines) and his alleged accomplices enteredits fifth day on April 28.
The accused were questioned in detail about violations they allegedly committed.
Meanwhile, several additional witnesses, including a representativefrom the Vietnam Maritime Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Maritime Bank)and former Vinalines Deputy General Director Bui Van Trung, weresubpoenaed to clarify some details that arose in the testimonies of theaccused and in new documents presented by lawyers.
Thedefendants have pleaded guilty of some charges in the previous days. Atthe trial, the jury has reread the statements outlining their version ofevents to shed light on a contradiction between some evidence and thetestimony of former Vinalines Ship Repair Company Director Tran Hai Sonregarding the acquisition of 1.666 million USD.
Documentshave come to light verifying that Son withdrew the sum together with awritten reply from Maritime Bank acknowledging his depositing andwithdrawal using an ID card. The Maritime Bank representative was askedto clarify why the bank’s written reply does not align with theverification documents.
Prosecutors came up with newdocuments supplied by the Russian side, which were announced by the juryand then sent to the lawyers at their request.
The HanoiPeople’s Court on December 16, 2013 sentenced Dung and former VinalinesGeneral Director Mai Van Phuc to death for embezzlement. Theirviolations of State regulations on economic management were met with18-year jail sentences.
Eightother defendants from Vinalines, the Vietnam Registry and Van PhongCustoms Office in the central province of Khanh Hoa were sentencedto prison terms ranging from four to 22 years. Nine of the defendantshave appealed the Hanoi court’s verdict.
According to the indictment issued at the court, during 2007-2008, Dungand his fellow defendants violated regulations on investment, biddingand customs procedures for import and export. The malpractice causedlosses of 366.9 billion VND (17.2 million USD) to the State budget.
The trial will continue on April 29.-VNA