On the morning of March 5, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Court opened the trial of defendant Truong My Lan (Chairwoman of Van Thinh Phat Group) and other defendants involved in the Van Thinh Phat and SCB Bank case.
Truong My Lan and her accomplices appeared in court.
After reading the trial decision and checking the presence or absence of the defendants, the participants in the proceedings, the presiding judge began to check the backgrounds of the defendants.
Defendant Truong My Lan.
Defendant Truong My Lan stated that she was emotionally stable. She was born in Ho Chi Minh City and went to school until grade 12. Before being brought to trial, she was the Chairwoman of Van Thinh Phat Group.
The presiding judge asked the defendant if her husband, Chu Lap Co, was also a defendant in this case.
Truong My Lan replied, “Yes!”
Before coming to court, have you received the indictment and the decision to bring the case to trial? – the presiding judge continued to ask.
Defendant Truong My Lan answered yes and added that she received the decision to bring the case to trial about 2 weeks ago.
In court, defendant Chu Nap Kee Eric (aka Chu Lap Co – Truong My Lan’s husband) spoke in English and had an interpreter. Chu Lap Co said his health was fine today.
Defendant Truong Hue Van.
Defendant Truong Hue Van (Truong My Lan’s granddaughter) also said her health was stable. Before being brought to trial, Truong Hue Van was the CEO of Van Thinh Phat Group.
All 3 defendants stated that they had no criminal records or prior convictions.
Truong My Lan is being tried for the crimes of Bribery, Violation of Banking Operations Regulations, and Embezzlement of 304 trillion Vietnamese dong from SCB Bank.
Chu Lap Co is accused of helping his wife “drain” SCB Bank, causing losses of over 9.116 trillion Vietnamese dong.
Truong Hue Van is identified as actively assisting Truong My Lan, causing losses of nearly 1.1 trillion Vietnamese dong.
