The entire case file related to the irregularities at the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Gia Lai province has been transferred to the local People’s Court for trial in accordance with legal regulations.
Embezzling over VND 4 billion during the pandemic
According to the indictment reported by Cong Ly newspaper, the accused, Do Thi Thu Hien (born 1978, former Chief Accountant of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Gia Lai province), was authorized by the Account Holder to withdraw money from the account at the Vietnam Development Bank, Nam Gia Lai Branch.
Due to the complex situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing measures were frequently implemented. To ensure timely disbursements and given their trust in Do Thi Thu Hien, Ho Van Diem (former Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Gia Lai province) and Dinh Thi Giang (born 1975, former Vice Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Gia Lai province), the first and second account holders, respectively, signed the cash withdrawal papers presented by Hien.
Hien then signed as the chief accountant, stamped the organization’s seal on Diem’s or Giang’s signature, and used some sample papers to print the amount of money to be withdrawn at the bank for actual disbursements according to the decisions.
Taking advantage of her position in monitoring and allocating funds for the COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control and other expenses, from August 2020 to December 2021, Do Thi Thu Hien used 15 unsigned cash withdrawal papers with the signatures of Ho Van Diem and Dinh Thi Giang. She then fabricated the content of the withdrawal documents and embezzled more than VND 4 billion.
Specifically, the authorities determined that Diem signed 10 papers totaling over VND 3.5 billion, while Giang signed 5 papers totaling nearly VND 575 million.
On May 11, 2023, Do Thi Thu Hien turned herself in to the Police Investigation Agency of Gia Lai province.
Hien’s actions violated Clause 2, Article 3 of Decree No. 64/2008/ND-CP dated May 14, 21008, on the mobilization, reception, allocation, and use of voluntary contributions to support people in overcoming difficulties caused by natural disasters, fires, serious incidents, and critical illnesses.
In addition, she also violated Clause 2, Article 61 of the State Budget Law of 2015, which states that “The person in charge of finance and accounting at the budget-using unit has the task of implementing the regulations on financial and budget management, state accounting, internal inspection, and has the responsibility to prevent, detect and propose to the head of the unit and the financial agency of the same level to handle cases of violation.”
Although Dinh Thi Giang was not assigned to manage and use the COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control fund of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Gia Lai province, she was the second account holder of account number 62110000200xxx at the Vietnam Development Bank, Nam Gia Lai Branch, and was authorized to approve disbursements.
Due to her trust in Do Thi Thu Hien for withdrawing money from the account for the unit’s tasks, Dinh Thi Giang signed under the “Account Holder” section on five unsigned cash withdrawal papers without specifying the amount to be withdrawn. Do Thi Thu Hien then used these papers to fabricate withdrawal documents and embezzle nearly VND 575 million from account number 62110000200xxx of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Gia Lai province.
Prosecuting the female accountant with a sentence ranging from 20 years to life imprisonment or death
Notably, the authorities determined that the accused, Do Thi Thu Hien, had committed the crime multiple times and took advantage of the difficult circumstances of the pandemic and other societal challenges. Therefore, her offense is considered aggravated according to points g and l, Clause 1, Article 52 of the Penal Code: “Committing a crime two or more times” and “Taking advantage of the circumstances of war, state of emergency, natural disasters, epidemics, or other particularly difficult situations of society to commit a crime.”
As Hien surrendered and confessed to her crimes, she is eligible for mitigating circumstances as per point s, Clause 1, and Clause 2, Article 51 of the Penal Code: “Surrender” and “Confession.”
Regarding the accused, Dinh Thi Giang, there are no aggravating circumstances. However, there are mitigating circumstances, including her confession, voluntary restitution, outstanding achievements in her work (awarded the Third-Class Labor Medal by the State), and her family’s revolutionary contributions. These mitigating factors are specified in points b, s, and v, Clause 1, and Clause 2, Article 51 of the Penal Code.
Do Thi Thu Hien is prosecuted for “Embezzlement of Property” and faces a sentence ranging from 20 years to life imprisonment or death.
As a result, Do Thi Thu Hien is prosecuted for “Embezzlement of Property” according to point a, Clause 4, Article 353 of the Penal Code, with a sentence ranging from 20 years to life imprisonment or death.
Dinh Thi Giang is prosecuted for “Negligence causing serious consequences” according to point c, Clause 2, Article 360 of the Penal Code, with a sentence ranging from 3 to 7 years of imprisonment.
Case dismissal for the former Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Gia Lai province
Regarding other individuals involved: Ho Van Diem, the former Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Gia Lai province and the first account holder, was charged with “Negligence causing serious consequences” for his role in allowing Do Thi Thu Hien to embezzle more than VND 3.5 billion from the committee’s account at the Vietnam Development Bank, Nam Gia Lai Branch. However, during the prosecution, Ho Van Diem passed away, leading to the dismissal of his case by the People’s Procuracy of Gia Lai province.
The employees of the Vietnam Development Bank, Nam Gia Lai Branch, were not found to have deviated from the procedures when allowing Do Thi Thu Hien to withdraw cash from account number 62110000200xxx. Therefore, the investigation agency had no basis to request the consideration of handling these bank employees regarding Hien’s embezzlement of the aforementioned amount.
“Prosecution of government officials, land registration officers, and tax department employees in the largest bribery case ever”
The Thanh Hoa Police Investigative Agency has initiated legal proceedings against 23 individuals involved in the crimes of “Bribery” and “Receiving bribes”. This is the largest bribery case in terms of the number of suspects ever discovered and apprehended by the Thanh Hoa Police.
Include 2 cases in the Central Steering Committee for Anti-Corruption to monitor
On the afternoon of February 1st, the Central Internal Affairs Committee held a press conference to announce the results of the 25th meeting of the Central Steering Committee for Anti-Corruption and Anti-Negative Behaviors.
