Defendant Tran Ngoc Bich Questioned in Trial Against Her Father and Sister
In the afternoon of April 23, at the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Court’s preliminary hearing of the case of “Abuse of Trust and Misappropriation of Property” against Mr. Tran Qui Thanh (born in 1953, residing in Binh Duong province), Ms. Tran Uyen Phuong (born in 1981), and Ms. Tran Ngoc Bich (born in 1984, both residing in Binh Duong province and daughters of Mr. Thanh), the panel of judges questioned the defendant Tran Ngoc Bich.
 Ms. Tran Ngoc Bich at the court hearing.
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Defendant Tran Ngoc Bich was also the last defendant to be questioned by the panel of judges. Previously, her father, Mr. Tran Qui Thanh, and her sister, defendant Tran Uyen Phuong, had also answered questions from the panel.
In this case, Ms. Tran Ngoc Bich is being prosecuted and tried as an accomplice to her father. Specifically, through a brokerage, Ms. Bich and her sister and father lent Ms. Dang Thi Kim Oanh (Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Kim Oanh Company) 500 billion VND by signing a fictitious contract to transfer shares of Minh Thanh Company, agreeing to transfer the Nhon Thanh project to Tran Uyen Phuong and Tran Ngoc Bich, with an interest rate of 3%/month and a late payment penalty of 4.5%/month.
 Released on bail, Ms. Tran Ngoc Bich arrived at the court on time with her lawyer. |
At the investigation agency, Ms. Tran Ngoc Bich only admitted to buying and selling shares, not to helping Mr. Tran Qui Thanh borrow money.
At the court hearing, in response to the panel of judges, Ms. Bich said that after hearing the panel of judges’ analysis, she now understands that this is a loan contract. She therefore agrees with the indictment.
Ms. Tran Ngoc Bich entering the courtroom on April 23. |
Although she admits to the wrongdoing as stated in the indictment, Ms. Bich said that she was not aware of any negotiations between Mr. Thanh and Kim Oanh Company and only acted based on the documents and agreements between the parties.
“If the panel of judges considers that transaction to be a loan, then the defendant admits to the wrongdoing and agrees with the indictment’s findings. The defendant admits to signing a contract to transfer part of the contributed capital of Minh Thanh Company,” Mr. Tran Qui Thanh’s daughter stated in court.
Tan Chau
