The People’s Procuracy of Hà Nội yesterday proposed a life sentence for Trịnh Xuân Thanh, former Chairman of the Board of Directors of PetroVietnam Construction Corporation (PVC), on the charge of “asset embezzlement” at PetroVietnam Power Land JSC (PVP Land). — VNA/VNS Photo Doãn Tấn

HÀ NỘI – The People’s Procuracy of Hà Nội yesterday proposed a life sentence for Trịnh Xuân Thanh, former Chairman of the Board of Directors of PetroVietnam Construction Corporation (PVC), on the charge of “asset embezzlement” at PetroVietnam Power Land JSC (PVP Land). 
A 17-18 year imprisonment was sought for Đào Duy Phong, former Chairman of PVP Land’s Board of Directors, while 14-15 years of imprisonment was suggested for Nguyễn Ngọc Sinh, former PVP Land General Director. 
The procuracy demanded prison terms of 11-12 years for Đinh Mạnh Thắng, former Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sông Đà Oil and Gas Investment and Commerce JSC; Thái Kiều Hương, former Deputy General Director of Vietsan Investment JSC; and Huỳnh Nguyễn Quốc Duy, a self-employed trader. 
Prison terms of 9-10 years and 8-9 years were proposed for Lê Hòa Bình, former Chairman of the Board of Directors of the 1/5 Construction and Services JSC and Minh Ngân JSC; and Nguyễn Thị Kim Thoa, former chief accountant of the 1/5 Construction and Services JSC and Minh Ngan JSC, respectively. 
However, Bình and Thoa are already serving life sentences on charges of “fraudulent appropriation of property” at the 1/5 Construction and Services JSC following verdict No 134 issued on March 15, 2017. Therefore, they are expected to remain in jail for life regardless of their sentence for the more recent charges.

All the defendants are charged with “asset embezzlement” in accordance with Article 278, Clause 4 of the 1999 Penal Code. 
According to the procuracy, investigation results and cross-examination of the defendants at the trial showed that Thanh, Thang, Huong, Phong, Sinh and Duy contacted and connived with Binh and Thoa to implement the signing of a transfer contract at the Nam Dan Plaza project with the price of VNĐ34 million ($1,506) per sq.m, lower than the deposit price of VNĐ52 million ($2,303) per sq.m, to appropriate the difference of more than VNĐ87 billion (US$3.86 million). 
Of the money, Thanh arrogated VNĐ14 billion, while Thắng pocketed VNĐ5 billion; Phong, VNĐ8 billion; and Sinh, VNĐ2 billion. Đặng Sĩ Hùng, chief of PVP Land economic and planning division, who died during the investigation, appropriated VNĐ20 billion. Due to his death, the Supreme People’s Procuracy decided to cancel the investigation against him. 
The defendants received a total of VNĐ49 billion from the deal. 
Among the defendants, Thanh was said to have played the decisive role in the case. 
As many as 16 lawyers registered to represent the defendants, six of which defended Thanh. 
The trial is scheduled to last for two weeks. — VNS