HCMC – Major fuel trader Trinh Suong, director of My Hung Co., Ltd in the Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang, has been indicted for leading a ring, which produced over 137 million liters of substandard fuel worth nearly VND2.5 trillion, allegedly earning an unlawful profit of over VND100 billion.
The People’s Procuracy of Dak Nong Province in the Central Highlands issued the indictment, charging the 53-year-old man in line with Article 192 of the 2015 Penal Code. Accordingly, Suong could face a jail sentence from seven to 15 years, reported the VnExpress news website.
Besides, 38 other accused were indicted for their involvement in the case, including many owners of fuel and chemical trading facilities in HCMC, Can Tho and Dak Nong such as Dinh Chi Dung, director of Dinh Chi Dung Company in HCMC’s District 9; Nguyen Ngoc Quan, director of Tam Quang chemical company in HCMC’s Binh Chanh District, and Nguyen Thi Thu Hoa, managing director of Pham Son Company.
Hoa’s company was confirmed as the chemical provider for these substandard-fuel makers.
According to the indictment, Suong founded My Hung Company in 1996 to trade in fuels. He launched the Gia Thanh Company 11 years later, but allowed his sister-in-law named Truong Nhu Tuyet Tram to serve as its director. Suong also holds a 75% stake in the Ressol Petrochemical Trade JSC.
Suong learned how to produce substandard fuels in late 2016 by blending chemicals and solvents with real gasoline.
Until April last year, Suong hired more facilities to serve the poor-quality fuel production at the Ressol Fuel Warehouse under the Ressol Petrochemical Trade JSC in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho.
To avoid being discovered by the police, Suong indirectly purchased materials to make fuels through scores of individuals and parties.
During the police raids held between May 28 and June 2 last year, these entities were caught mixing solvents with colored powder to produce fuels at six locations in HCMC, Can Tho and the Hau Giang and Soc Trang provinces.
Authorities discovered that over 137 million liters of substandard fuel worth VND2.492 trillion was produced at two fuel warehouses run by Suong in Soc Trang and Can Tho between 2017 and 2019.
