Defendants at the court this morning. — VNA/VNS Photo Văn Điệp

HÀ NỘI — The People’s Court of Hà Nội on Wednesday morning held the first instance trial for six defendants in the case of “violations of State economic management regulations, causing serious consequences” at the Việt Nam Social Security (VSS) and Agribank Financial Leasing Company No 2 (ALC II).

The defendants prosecuted by the Supreme People’s Procuracy include Lê Bạch Hồng, former Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and former general director of the VSS; Nguyễn Huy Ban, former general director of the VSS; and Nguyễn Phước Tường, former head of the planning-finance department, now the department of planning-investment, and former chief accountant of the VSS.

Hoàng Hà and Trần Tiến Vỹ, who are former heads of the general planning division under the planning-finance department, now the department of planning-investment of VSS, were prosecuted for the same charges pursuant to Article 165, Clause 3, of the Penal Code 1999.

Particularly, former specialist Trần Thị Thanh Thủy, then deputy head of the general planning division, was prosecuted for lacking responsibility, causing serious consequences according to Article 285, Clause 2, of the Penal Code 1999.

The Procuracy finds that Hồng signed and directed the implementation of three loan contracts for ALC II, which is now unable to recover, causing State economic losses of more than VNĐ434 billion (US$18.6 million).

Meanwhile, Ban is accused of signing and directing the implementation of 11 other loan contracts worth VNĐ630 billion for ALC II, which is not in line with the investment principle of the VSS fund, causing State economic losses of over VNĐ1.26 trillion.

There are 15 lawyers who will represent the defendants.

In addition, a lawyer is also involved in protecting the legal rights and interests of Agribank.

Attending the trial were also representatives of Việt Nam Social Insurance and Agribank, and five witnesses.

The trial is expected to last for a week. — VNS