Former Vice Minister of National Defence and former Commander of the Vietnam People’s Navy Nguyễn Văn Hiến. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Defence ministry on late Tuesday said legal proceedings have been commenced against a former Commander of the Vietnamese Navy over fraud allegations.

Nguyễn Văn Hiến, former defence deputy minister and former Commander of the Việt Nam People’s Navy, is being investigated for “lack of responsibility, causing serious consequences” in accordance with Clause 3, Article 360 of the 2015 Penal Code.

The Criminal Investigation Agency under the Ministry of National Defence (MoNF) and the Central Military Procuracy on Tuesday issued a decision to place Hiển under house arrest.

The investigation is part of a fraud and land management case involving Đinh Ngọc Hệ, alias Út trọc, former chairman and general director of Thái Sơn Development and Investment JSC.
Ngọc Hệ was sentenced to 10 years in prison by the Central Military Court for “abusing position and power while performing duties”, and another two years for “using falsified documents of agencies and organisations” in November last year.

Now Hiến is also being investigation.

He has been stripped of his status as former Commander of the Việt Nam People’s Navy for wrongdoings related to naval land management while in the post of Commander.

The Politburo has also stripped Hiến of the party position positions including member of the Party Committee of Central Military Commission for 2005-10 and member of Party Committee of the Việt Nam People’s Navy for 2005-2010 which included the titles of Vice Secretary and member of the Standing Board and member of the Party Committee. 

According to the Politburo, during his time serving as Vice Secretary of the Party Committee and Commander of the Việt Nam People’s Navy, Hiến was responsible for serious violations and mistakes of the Standing Board of the Party Committee of the Việt Nam People’s Navy regarding the management and use of defence land under the management of the navy.  
Hiến was also responsible for violating legal stipulations on land management and use, and construction on ten plots of defence land.

He violated the principle of centralised democracy and regulations of the Party Committee of the Việt Nam People’s Navy, and responsible for loose management and inadequate supervision on the management and use of defence land.

Competent agencies said Hiến’s violations and mistakes were very serious, causing major financial losses to the State and the army, and resulting in a number of officers and Party members in the naval force being prosecuted and investigated, thus adversely affecting the reputation of the Party, army and Hiến himself.  — VNS