The People’s Court of Hà Nội on Monday decided to suspend a trial for the case of “abusing position and power to appropriate assets” that occurred at the PetroVietnam Exploration Production Corporation (PVEP).—  VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — The People’s Court of Hà Nội on Monday decided to suspend a trial for the case of “abusing position and power to appropriate assets” that occurred at the PetroVietnam Exploration Production Corporation (PVEP).

The court postponed the trial to summon more witnesses for the case, namely Hoàng Ngọc Đang, former Chairman of PVEP’s Council Members, and Đinh Văn Đức, chief accountant of PVEP. It will announce the date to reopen the trial later. 

The case forms part of the second phase of a corruption case involving Hà Văn Thắm, former Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Ocean Commercial Joint Stock Bank (OceanBank), regarding the receipt of extra interest payments of OceanBank.

The three defendants in the case are Nguyễn Tuấn Hùng, former head of PVEP’s Financial Department; Vũ Thị Ngọc Lan, former Deputy General Director of PVEP; and Đỗ Văn Khạnh, former General Director of PVEP. They are charged with “abusing position and power to appropriate assets” under Article 355 of the 2015 Penal Code.

According to the indictment, PVEP engaged in transactions on deposits of fixed and non-fixed terms at OceanBank during 2009-14 under the direction of the Việt Nam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) on prioritising financial services of OceanBank, to which PetroVietnam contributed 20 percent of the charter capital. 

During questioning, Hùng admitted to giving money to Khạnh and Đang twice under the witness of Lan and Đức.

According to prosecutors, he did not reveal the information in previous investigations.

In addition, the court requested the presence of then Deputy General Director of OceanBank Nguyễn Thị Minh Phương. As more time is needed to verify Phương’s health condition, the trial is postponed with its new date yet to be announced. — VNS