Former BIDV Chairman detained for serious banking violations

November 29, 2018 - 20:00

Trần Bắc Hà, 61, former chairman of the State-owned Bank for Investment and Development of Việt Nam (BIDV), one of the largest in the country, was detained and had his house searched on Thursday, the Ministry of Public Security announced.

Former Chairman of BIDV Trần Bắc Hà. — VNA/VNS Photo
Viet Nam News

HÀ NỘI — Trần Bắc Hà, 61, former chairman of the State-owned Bank for Investment and Development of Việt Nam (BIDV), one of the largest in the country, was detained and had his house searched on Thursday, the Ministry of Public Security announced.

Trần Lục Lang, former director-general of BIDV, and Kiều Đình Hòa, former director of the bank’s branch in the central province of Hà Tĩnh, were also held in custody, while Lê Thị Vân Anh, former head of corporate clients of the Hà Tĩnh’s branch, was ordered not to leave her residence.

The four are alleged to have been involved in violations of banking regulations taking place at the BIDV which was connected with the ongoing trial into a “major economic mismanagement case” at the corruption-ridden Việt Nam Construction Bank (VNCB).

Hà was considered to have made alleged arbitrary decision to approve the loan of VNĐ4.7 trillion (US$210.7 million) to 12 ghost companies set up by the currently-indicted Phạm Công Danh, who was serving as the chair of the VNCB at the time. According to the State Bank of Việt Nam, this decision resulted in a loss of VNĐ2.5 trillion for VNCB.

The agency is conducting the investigation and is reclaiming assets in line with the law. 

According to the press statement of the 27th session of the Party Central Committee’s Inspection Commission, authorities decided to take disciplinary measures against Hà, who is also former Secretary of the BIDV Party Committee, by dispelling him from the Party.

At the 26th session, the commission concluded that Hà holds the main responsibility for the wrongdoings and shortcomings of the BIDV Party Committee’s standing board for the 2010-15 and 2015-20 tenures.

Hà worked at BIDV since 1981, assumed the leadership of the bank in 2008, and retired eight years later. — VNS

 

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