Appeal trial began for former OceanBank executives
The High-Level People’s Court in Hanoi began to hear the appeals of Ha Van Tham, former Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Ocean Commercial Joint Stock Bank (OceanBank), and his accomplices for their wrongdoings at the bank.
Hanoi (VNA) – The High-Level People’sCourt in Hanoi began to hear the appeals of Ha Van Tham, former Chairman of theBoard of Directors of the Ocean Commercial Joint Stock Bank (OceanBank), andhis accomplices for their wrongdoings at the bank.
Due to OceanBank’s poorcapability and violations committed by Ha Van Tham, the bank suffered seriouslosses, leading to the loss of the 800 billion VND invested by PetroVietnamwhen the State Bank of Vietnam was forced to buy OceanBank at zero VND.
The OceanBank case is one of the six major economiccrimes that received the direct instruction from the Central Anti-CorruptionSteering Committee.
A total of 27 defendants appealed against theverdict made at the first instance trial which took place from August 28 toSeptember 29, 2017. These defendants claimed innocence or asked for reducedpunishment, suspended sentences and absolution from criminal responsibilities. Threeorganisations and individuals with related interests and duties also asked for re-considerationof compensation.
At the first instance trial, the Hanoi People’sCourt sentenced Ha Van Tham to life imprisonment on four counts: “propertyembezzlement”, “abusing positions and power to appropriate assets”, “breaching lendingregulations of credit institutions”, and “deliberately violating Stateregulations on economic management causing severe consequences.”
Nguyen Xuan Son, former General Director ofOceanBank, was sentenced to death on the charges of “property embezzlement”, “abusingpositions and power to appropriate assets” and “deliberately violating Stateregulations on economic management causing severe consequences”.
Nguyen Minh Thu, former Deputy General Director of OceanBank,got 22 years in prison for “deliberately violating State regulations oneconomic management causing severe consequences,” and “abusing positions andpower to appropriate assets.”
The court also handed down jail sentences of 14 yearson Pham Cong Danh (former Chairman of the Board of Directors of Thien ThanhGroup) and 17 years on Hua Thi Phan (former Chairwoman of the Board ofDirectors of Phu My Investment and Development JSC) for “breaching loanregulations of credit institutions.”
Danh and Phan, along with two other defendants, havesubmitted requests for permission to be absent at the appeal trial due tohealth problems.
The appeal trial is scheduled to last until April 29and its verdict is expected to be announced after the Reunification Day (April30) and May Day holidays.-VNA
The Hanoi People’s Court on March 19 opened a trial for Dinh La Thang, former Chairman of the Member Council of the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam), and six accomplices for their wrongdoings in investing PetroVietnam’s capital in Ocean Bank.
The Hanoi court opened on March 19 a trial for Dinh La Thang and six accomplices charged with wrongdoings in PetroVietnam’s investment of 800 billion VND into OceanBank.
Ninh Van Quynh, former chief accountant and former head of the department of finance, accounting and auditing of PetroVietnam, who involved in the Oceanbank wrongdoings, has asked the Hanoi People’s Court for reductions in his sentences.
Dinh La Thang, former Chairman of the Member Council of the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam), who involved in the notorious OceanBank case, has submitted his written appeal asking the Hanoi People’s Court for reconsidering his charge, penalty and civil responsibility.
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Defendants at the court (Source: VNA)
