On October 30, Ho Chi Minh City People’s Court opened a trial for the defendant Phan Minh Tan (69 years old Associate Professor Doctorate, former Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science and Technology) and 4 accomplices on the crime of Violation violating regulations on management and use of public investment capital, causing serious consequences.
Related to the case Mr. Khuat Duy Vinh Long (71 years old, former Deputy Head of the Technology Management Department – Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science and Technology) was prosecuted by the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Procuracy for the above crime. However, during the process of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Court resolving the case, this person fled, so the conducting agency issued a wanted notice.
At today’s trial, Nguyen Quoc Thai (67 years old) asked for trial in absentia due to being treated at the hospital. The lawyer defending this defendant said that his client is currently being treated at Gia Dinh People’s Hospital.
The representative of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Procuracy said that defendant Thai’s absence was due to force majeure, so It is necessary to postpone the trial to ensure the rights of this person as well as other defendants. At the same time, the prosecutor’s office requested the court to return the file to verify that if his health is not guaranteed, the prescribed procedures should be applied.
Mr. Thai’s defense lawyer disagreed with The Procuracy’s above opinion said that his client had already given a statement at the investigation agency, so there was no need to postpone the trial.
After verification, the jury decided to continue the trial.< /p>
According to the indictment, the Ho Chi Minh City Science and Technology Development Foundation is a non-profit organization with the function of promoting the application of scientific research results and technology development and technology transfer. of Ho Chi Minh City.
The management board of the above fund consists of 6 members, chaired by Mr. Phan Minh Tan. The fund’s operating agency is the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Development Investment Fund (HIFU).
In August 2009, Nguyen Trong Vu (Director of Huy Hoang Investment and Technology Development Company) had the merit of Letter sent to the Department of Science and Technology of Ho Chi Minh City requesting financial support from the scientific career budget in the amount of 5,1 billion VND to implement project 1.
Mr. Phan Minh Tan has appraised approved and approved Huy Hoang Company’s plan and this company was supported with 49 billion VND in funding progress divided into 3 installments. Although Huy Hoang Company’s project implementation progress is slower than planned, Mr. Tan and his accomplices still proposed to approve the second phase of funding of 700 million VND.
After receiving the second round of funding, Huy Hoang Company could not complete the project nor refund the funds that had to be recovered. According to the appraisal conclusion, project 1 caused damage of nearly 3,2 billion VND.
In parallel with the above project, in September 2009, Nguyen Trong Vu continued to send an official dispatch to the Department of Science and Technology of Ho Chi Minh City to proposed to borrow 10 billion VND to implement project 2.
After the appraisal and approval steps in early 2010, Mr. Phan Minh Tan signed a document concluding that the project met the requirements and agreed to lend despite the Many opponents said that the project was not feasible and requested to reconsider Huy Hoang Company’s capital source.
In April 2019, HIFU signed a contract to lend Huy Hoang Company 10 billion At the same time, 48 months 0% interest rate, disbursement progress divided into several installments. However, after receiving the third disbursement on May 13, 2011, Nguyen Trong Vu fled the country and returned to the US.
As of June 30, 2021, the damage of project 2 was determined to be 19 5 billion VND including principal and interest.
During the investigation, Mr. Tan admitted that Huy Hoang Company was incompetent finance and is still limited but considering the chip manufacturing sector Electronics are being encouraged and supported by the State.
However, Mr. Tan and a number of other defendants did not admit the crime because they believed that the loan approval was in accordance with regulations.
Mr. Tan said that the crime Violation of State regulations on the management and use of public investment capital causing serious consequences is unfounded because the money provided to the science and technology development fund is not public investment capital.
In addition, the Associate Professor said that the charging agencies have not yet investigated and proven which organization or individual appropriated money from the Ho Chi Minh City Science and Technology Development Fund but prosecuted himself and the defendants. Another reason is that it does not ensure objectivity, is unfair and shows signs of missing criminals.
For Nguyen Trong Vu Security Investigation Agency The Ho Chi Minh City Police Department has decided to prosecute the case of prosecuting the defendant for the crime of abuse of trust and appropriation of property and issued a wanted notice for Vu.
In April 2017, the investigation agency temporarily suspended the investigation. Once Vu is caught, they will be prosecuted.
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