Refuting the indictment, continuing to request the summoning of the victim, Do Anh Dung
On the morning of September 9, the People’s Court of Hanoi reopened the trial of the defendant Nguyen Sy Ta (DOB 1972, former head of the Ethnic Minorities Committee) for “fraudulent appropriation of property” as stipulated in Clause 4, Article 174 of the Criminal Code.
The victim in this case is Mr. Do Anh Dung (Chairman of the Tan Hoang Minh Group).
This is the fourth time the court has opened the trial. In the previous three trials, Mr. Ta repeatedly refuted the indictment and requested the court to summon Mr. Do Anh Dung for a face-to-face confrontation, but Mr. Dung was absent.
Notably, at the third trial, Mr. Dung sent a letter to the court stating that due to health reasons, high blood pressure, hot weather, and shortness of breath, he was not in good health to attend the trial. He had authorized a lawyer to represent him and protect his legal rights.
The letter also stated that Mr. Dung was defrauded by Mr. Ta and lost 80 billion VND, of which the defendant had only returned 13 billion VND, with the remaining balance of more than 66 billion VND unpaid.
Regarding this circumstance, the representative of the Hanoi People’s Procuracy said that the amount of money that Ta returned to Mr. Dung in the indictment was 33 billion VND, and the new amount of 13 billion VND mentioned in the letter contradicted the indictment.
Due to the contradiction, the court decided to adjourn the trial and request the lawyer to discuss with Mr. Do Anh Dung about the amount of money that he stated had been returned by the defendant, which contradicted the indictment. In case the lawyer and Mr. Dung cannot clarify this amount, another procedural measure will be applied in the next trial, as the inconsistent amount cannot be used as a basis for the trial.
At the opening of today’s trial, Mr. Ta continued to request the court to “summon at all costs” Mr. Dung for a face-to-face confrontation. The former head affirmed that he “disagreed with the continuation of the trial” without the presence of the victim.
In addition, Mr. Ta also requested to change the prosecutor, but the court rejected this request because the defendant could not provide evidence that the prosecutor was biased and subjective.
After deliberation, the Panel of Judges decided to continue the trial as it had been adjourned many times, and the victim had authorized a lawyer to represent him and protect his legal rights.
Defendant Nguyen Sy Ta.
Accused of appropriating money
According to the indictment, Duc Anh Company is the investor of the Nui Cuong project (Quang Ninh province). In 2018, the company wanted to sell the project, so its representative met with Nguyen Sy Ta and asked him to “find a buyer.” As Ta was acquainted with Mr. Do Anh Dung, he introduced the project to him.
When introducing the Nui Cuong Island project, Ta stated that the project had been planned by the Quang Ninh People’s Committee for tourism development, eco-urban areas, hotels, and housing. He also claimed that the project and Duc Anh Company belonged to him, as he had been the Director of the Government Guest House and served the “uncles,” so the “uncles” gave him the project.
Ta also stated that because he worked for the government, he could not own the project directly, so he asked his driver and housekeeper to hold it on his behalf…
Believing Ta’s words, Mr. Do Anh Dung agreed to buy the project and agreed on a price of 400 billion VND for the transfer of 100% of Duc Anh Company’s shares. Ta requested a deposit of 20% of the transfer value, equivalent to 80 billion VND, and asked Mr. Dung to keep it confidential so that he could go and “thank the uncles.”
In 2019, Tan Hoang Minh’s employees sent a contract to Ta, and the defendant informed them that the project’s price was 320 billion VND and required a deposit of 80 billion VND to “ensure the signing of the contract and the transfer of ownership.”
Also in the same year, Nguyen Sy Ta went to the headquarters of the Tan Hoang Minh Group twice to receive a total of 80 billion VND as a deposit. After that, he demanded that the shareholders of Duc Anh Company pay him 20 billion VND if the Nui Cuong project was sold.
However, as Duc Anh Company did not sell the project to Tan Hoang Minh, Mr. Dung investigated and found out that the Quang Ninh People’s Committee did not approve the project because Nui Cuong Island was not in line with the land use plan.
Mr. Dung then worked with the shareholders of Duc Anh Company and found out that the Nui Cuong project did not belong to the defendant, and he did not transfer the 80 billion VND deposit to Duc Anh Company.
Mr. Dung then signed a new contract with Duc Anh Company to purchase the project and demanded the return of the money from Nguyen Sy Ta, but only received 33 billion VND, with the remaining 47 billion VND being appropriated.
Regarding the new contract for the sale of the Nui Cuong project between Duc Anh Company and Tan Hoang Minh, it was also canceled later.
The prosecution agency determined that Mr. Do Anh Dung was the victim and had filed a request to compel Nguyen Sy Ta to return the remaining 47 billion VND.
In March 2024, the People’s Court of Hanoi sentenced Do Anh Dung to eight years in prison for “fraudulent appropriation of property.”
The case originated from the financial difficulties faced by the Tan Hoang Minh Group. To repay debts, Do Anh Dung instructed his son to raise capital by issuing bonds through companies in the “ecosystem,” such as Ngoi Sao Viet, Cung Dien Mua Dong, and Soleil. After selling the bonds, Dung’s group appropriated 8,600 billion VND from 6,630 customers.
Former Department Head Scams Tan Hoang Minh Chairman Out of 80 Billion VND; Faces 20 Years in Prison
The prosecution alleges that Nguyen Sy Ta, the former head of the Ethnic Minorities Committee’s Department of General Affairs, deceived Do Anh Dung, the chairman of the Tan Hoang Minh Group, into transferring 80 billion VND as a deposit for the Dao Nui Cuong project in Quang Ninh province. Nguyen then allegedly embezzled these funds for his personal use.
The Unexpected Departure: FLC’s Vice President Resigns Ahead of the Extraordinary General Meeting
Mrs. Tran Thi Huong, the Standing Vice President in charge of administration at FLC Group, has tendered her resignation from her positions at the conglomerate. Huong’s decision came immediately after FLC convened an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders.
The Embezzlement Conflict: Unraveling the Ex-Director’s Scheme.
In his application for a trial in absentia, Do Anh Dung claimed that he was deceived by Nguyen Sy Ta, who appropriated 80 billion VND from him, of which only 13 billion VND has been returned. However, the indictment states that the Chairman of Tan Hoang Minh has received 33 billion VND in repayments.
Postponing the Trial of the Former Department Head Who Embezzled 80 Billion VND from the Chairman of Tan Hoang Minh
The trial has been postponed as the victim, Tan Hoang Minh Group Chairman Do Anh Dung, was absent. The court decided to adjourn the hearing of the case involving Nguyen Sy Ta, the former head of the Synthesis Department of the Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs, who is accused of embezzling 80 billion VND.
