HCMC – Le Duc Tho, former secretary of Ben Tre Province’s Party Committee began standing trial today, November 20, for allegedly taking bribes and covering up violations for Xuyen Viet Oil, according to the local media reports.
The HCMC People’s Court is trialing the case involving Xuyen Viet Oil, along with several related agencies and organizations. The trial is expected to last until December 5.
Le Duc Tho is charged with bribery and abusing his position and authority to exert influence over others for personal gain.
Mai Thi Hong Hanh, director of Xuyen Viet Oil, has been brought to court on charges of embezzling state funds and bribing officials.
Six individuals are accused of taking bribes, namely Do Thang Hai, former deputy minister of Industry and Trade; Tran Duy Dong, former head of the Domestic Market Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade; Hoang Anh Tuan and Nguyen Loc An, former deputy head of the Domestic Market Department; Le Duy Minh, former director of Department of Finance of HCMC; and Dang Cong Khoi, deputy director of the Price Management Department, Ministry of Finance.
The remaining 7 defendants are charged with bribery, violating regulations on the management and use of state assets, causing loss and waste.
The indictment revealed that Mai Thi Hong Hanh and her accomplices mismanaged the fuel price stabilization fund, causing a loss of over VND219 billion. Hanh illegally used environmental protection tax funds for personal gain, resulting in a loss of VND1,244 billion to the state budget.
To conceal violations during Xuyen Viet Oil’s permit process, she bribed 22 officials, including former Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Finance, and HCMC Tax Department officials, as well as Le Duc Tho, totaling VND31.5 billion.
