On May 23, the Ministry of Public Security’s Investigation Security Agency decided to prosecute and arrest Phuong Hoang Kim (born 1973), former Director of the Electricity and Renewable Energy Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade) for “Abusing position and power while performing official duties” as stipulated in Article 356 of the Penal Code.
Phuong Hoang Kim, the accused. Photo: Ministry of Public Security |
The arrest of Phuong Hoang Kim was made during the expanded investigation of the case of “Abusing position and power while performing official duties” that took place at the Ministry of Industry and Trade and in various provinces and cities. After the Supreme People’s Procuracy approved, the Ministry of Public Security’s Investigation Security Agency carried out the above legal proceedings.
The case is being further investigated and expanded by the Ministry of Public Security’s Investigation Security Agency for strict handling in accordance with the law.
The Investigation Security Agency requests that individuals and organizations coordinate and provide information, documents, and evidence related to the violations to serve the investigation and handling of the case. Please send any relevant information, documents, or evidence to the Investigation Security Agency of the Ministry of Public Security (address: 7 Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street, Nguyen Du Ward, Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi; telephone number: 0692341536).
Earlier this month, the Investigation Security Agency of the Ministry of Public Security also decided to prosecute and detain Hoang Quoc Vuong, former Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, for “Abusing position and power while performing official duties” as stipulated in Article 356 of the Penal Code.
Previously, in November 2023, the Investigation Security Agency of the Ministry of Public Security prosecuted and arrested six defendants for “Abusing position and power while performing official duties”. Among them were two officers from the Electricity Regulatory Authority: Tran Quoc Hung, Deputy Head of the Licensing and Public Relations Division of the Electricity Regulatory Authority (Ministry of Industry and Trade), and Trinh Van Doan, an official in the same division.
The four other arrested individuals were officers of the Vietnam Electricity (EVN) Corporation: Nguyen Danh Son, Director of the Power Trading Company under EVN; Nguyen Huu Khai, Head of the Power Trading Division of the Power Trading Company; Do Ngoc Tuyen, an official in the same division; and Truong Hoang Dung, an official of the Technical and Information Technology Division of the Power Trading Company.
At a press conference held by the Ministry of Public Security on March 26, Colonel Phan Thanh Ba, Deputy Director of the Investigation Security Agency (Ministry of Public Security), said that this was a very complex case, occurring in a wide range of areas and over a long period, involving many ministries, sectors, localities, and enterprises. So far, the investigation agency has prosecuted eight defendants for “Abusing position and power while performing official duties.”
The initial investigation results showed that the defendants had made violations in advising the Prime Minister to issue regulations on the subjects and conditions for enjoying preferential electricity prices, which were contrary to the resolutions and directives of the Government.
“The defendants also committed violations in appraising, granting licenses for electricity activities, and recognizing the commercial operation dates for some solar power projects, which were contrary to the provisions of the law, causing hundreds of billions of VND in damage to the Vietnam Electricity (EVN) Corporation,” added Colonel Ba. According to him, this case has been monitored and directed by the Central Steering Committee for Anti-Corruption and Negativity Prevention.
