Trial against defendants in Phu Tho ethanol case set for January 22
The Hanoi People’s Court has decided to open a first-instance trial on January 22 against 12 defendants on the charge of violating regulations on investment in construction works, causing serious consequences at a petrochemical and bio-fuel plant project in the northern province of Phu Tho.
Hanoi (VNA) – The Hanoi People’s Court hasdecided to open a first-instance trial on January 22 against 12 defendants on the chargeof violating regulations on investment in construction works, causing serious consequences ata petrochemical and bio-fuel plant project in the northern province of Phu Tho.
The trial is scheduled to last for 10 days, with the boardof judges consisting of two judges and three people's jurors.
The 12 defendants include Dinh La Thang, former Chairman ofthe Board of Directors of the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam); Trinh Xuan Thanh, formerChairman and General Director of the PetroVietnam Construction Joint Stock Corporation (PVC); Vu ThanhHa, former General Director of the PetroVietnam Petrochemical and Bio-Fuel JSC(PVB); and Do Van Hong, Chairman of the Board of Directors and General Directorof the Kinh Bac Petroleum Construction and Investment JSC.
Thanh is prosecuted for violating State regulations oninvestment in construction works, causing severe consequences under Article 224, clause 3 of the 2015 Penal Code, and for abusing positionand power while performing duties under Article 356, clause 3 of the 2015 Penal Code. Meanwhile, Hong is charged for abusingposition and power while performing duties.
The ten remaining defendants are charged for violating Stateregulations on investment in construction works, causing severe consequences.
According to the indictment, Thang signed a resolution toapprove the investment in the project in October 2007. With Thanh’s support, PVC/AlfaLaval/Delta-T joint contractors, who had no previous experience in carrying outethanol projects, were assigned to be in charge of the project.
As a result, the project was continuously lagged behindschedule and stopped in March 2013 with no construction items done.
Wrongdoings of the defendants were said to cause a loss ofmore than 543 billion VND (23.49 million USD) for PVB./.
The Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) has decided to form teams to handle its loss-making projects since the snail-pace progress of the process has displeased the Government.
The high-profile trial of Trinh Xuan Thanh, former Chairman of the PetroVietnam Construction Joint Stock Corporation (PVC), and his accomplices, ended on January 22 after two weeks of sitting.
Police on January 20 launched criminal proceedings against Dinh La Thang, former Chairman of the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam), for his suspected violations regarding the Petrochemical and Bio-Fuel JSC – a subsidiary of this group.
The Ministry of Public Security’s Security Investigation Agency has proposed prosecuting Dinh La Thang, former Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) and nine accomplices on charges of violating regulations on construction works, causing serious consequences at the Petrochemical and Bio-Fuel JSC (PVB) - a subsidiary of this group.
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Defedant Dinh La Thang (Photo: VNA) 
