HÀ NỘI — The PetroVietnam (PVN) Group has decided to revoke two awards each from the Vietnam Petroleum Construction Joint Stock Corporation (PVC) and its former chairman Trịnh Xuân Thanh.

The decision was made by a majority vote of the Standing Committee of the group’s Party Committee.

PVN has reportedly sent a letter to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) about the cancellation of awards.

PVN said that the Group had asked for opinions of its Standing Committee members on the cancellation of two awards given to PVC: first-class and second-class Labour Orders, and Labour Hero title of PVC.

It also made a similar request about revoking two awards given to the former PVC Chairman: a Certificate of Merit from the Prime Minister; and a Labor Medal Third Class.

Last December, the Central Inspection Commission decided to reprimand Trần Thị Hà, member of the Party Committee, vice minister of Home Affairs, head of the Central Commission for Emulation and Reward, for procedural violations in directing the evaluation and issuance of the awards and titles to PVC and Trịnh Xuân Thanh.

In January 2010, PVC received the Labour Order, Secon Class for its achievements in 2009. In 2009, PVC turnover topped VNĐ3.7 trillion (US$162 million), nearly double that of 2008.

In November the same year, PVC was awarded the Labour Order, First Class.

At the ceremony in November, Vũ Đức Thuận, deputy secretary of the corporation’s Party Committee and general director of PVC, said that the corporation’s total revenue had exceeded VNĐ7 trillion (US$307 million).

Just two months later, on January 26, 2011, PVC received the title of Labour Hero of the Renovation Period. According to the performance report, in 2010, PVC completed and surpassed all economic goals, reaching its target nearly two months ahead with a total production value of VNĐ10.8 trillion.

Ineligible appointments

Vũ Huy Hoàng, former Minister of Industry and Trade, was found guilty of violating Party and State regulations on the reception and appointment of Trịnh Xuân Thanh as deputy chief of Office and head of Representative Office of the Ministry in Đà Nẵng, and chief of Office of the Party Delegation to the Ministry. 

Even after learning of Thanh’s violations and ineligibility, he agreed with the Party Committee of Hậu Giang Province’s proposal to move Thanh to work in the province as vice chairman of the provincial Party Committee for 2011-2016.

Earlier this year, Hoàng was deprived of his title as former minister for violating regulations on personnel management during his tenure.

On March 15, the Hà Nội Superior People’s Court ordered an official investigation into suspected embezzlement by Trịnh Xuân Thanh.

Thanh is already under investigation for alleged violations of State regulations on economic management that caused about VNĐ3.3 trillion (US$142 million) in losses for PVC.

An international arrest warrant has been issued against him after he alledgedly fled the country to Europe to avoid prosecution. —VNS