HCMC – Italian courts on May 30 sought the return of 23 remaining cashew nut containers of the 35 containers that faced a risk of being swindled in Italy in early March.
The shipping containers, whose original documents were supposedly missing, were shipped to Italy through Kim Hanh Viet Company, the local media reported.
They were among the 100 containers of cashew nuts bound for Italy, with some batches having been shipped and others still on their way.
Vietnamese cashew nut firms were unable to locate the original documents of the containers, meaning anyone who had them could receive the cashew nuts. They believed they had been swindled and worried about losing the cashew nut containers that had arrived in Italy.
Lawyer Davide Gallasso, who defended six Vietnamese cashew nut exporters, said the Italian courts have made favorable decisions for Vietnamese exporters.
They regained control over the first 12 containers in early April.
As for three companies which had yet to make deposits of 150% of their consignments for shipping lines to retrieve their containers, a criminal court in Genova has ruled that they can take back the goods or sell them to new buyers within 30 days of the judgment.
Similarly, a civil court in Larino has ascertained the right of Vietnamese exporters to regain the ownership of the cashew nut containers and rejected all objections from the buyer.
Lawyers at Gallasso & Associati law firm are working with the Italian customs and financial police to help Vietnamese exporters retrieve the containers from ports in the upcoming days.
Meanwhile, prosecutors in Naples City who are investigating the illegal actions of the buyer have asked the police and anti-fraud agencies to seek and seize all the 35 stolen original bills of lading, affirming that Vietnamese exporters were victims of a fraudulent scheme.
Lawyer Gallasso and his coworkers seek ways to help enterprises that have paid deposits take back their deposits early.
According to the lawyer, to avoid similar incidents, Vietnamese companies must practice caution while negotiating international business contracts.
