Prosecuting Mr. Le Duc Tho and 14 other accused in the Vietnam Oil scandal
The Vietnam Oil Case: To whom were the luxurious Patek Philippe watches bribed to?
According to the indictment, in June 2021, the license granted by the Ministry of Industry and Trade to Vietnam Oil Company was about to expire. As the company did not meet the requirements for license renewal, Ms. Mai Thi Hong Hanh (Director of Vietnam Oil) instructed Nguyen Van Thang (Deputy Director of Vietnam Oil, Hanoi Branch) to prepare funds and bribe officials and leaders of the Domestic Market Department and the Ministry of Industry and Trade to request a license renewal.
At that time, through the introduction of Mr. Nguyen Loc An (former Deputy Head of the Domestic Market Department), Ms. Hanh contacted Mr. Do Thang Hai (former Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade) for assistance in renewing the license for Vietnam Oil Company.
Ms. Hanh promised to thank Mr. Do Thang Hai after the matter was resolved. Mr. Do Thang Hai agreed and referred Ms. Hanh to Mr. Hoang Anh Tuan (former Deputy Head of the Domestic Market Department) for specific guidance.
Mr. Do Thang Hai also called Mr. Hoang Anh Tuan and directed him to promptly review and process the license renewal application of Vietnam Oil Company.
Mr. Do Thang Hai. Photo: Nhat Bac |
Following Mr. Do Thang Hai’s introduction, Ms. Hanh contacted Mr. Hoang Anh Tuan to discuss the license renewal and requested his assistance.
Mr. Hoang Anh Tuan reported the matter to Mr. Tran Duy Dong (former Head of the Domestic Market Department), and both agreed to facilitate the license renewal for Vietnam Oil Company as directed by Mr. Do Thang Hai.
On June 17, 2021, in accordance with Ms. Hanh’s instructions, her driver provided Mr. Nguyen Van Thang with 10,000 USD to meet with and bribe Mr. Hoang Anh Tuan to assist in obtaining the license for Vietnam Oil Company.
After the meeting, Mr. Thang reported back to Ms. Hanh that he had given 5,000 USD (equivalent to over 114 million VND) to Mr. Hoang Anh Tuan and that Mr. Tuan had agreed to help. The remaining amount was deposited into the company’s fund by Mr. Thang.
However, Ms. Hanh later received an official letter signed by Mr. Hoang Anh Tuan himself, informing her that the license renewal request had not been approved due to the company’s failure to meet the requirements regarding specialized wharves, oil and gas receiving warehouses, and distribution systems as stipulated in the regulations.
Undeterred, Ms. Hanh continued her communication with Mr. Hoang Anh Tuan, promising to send a “gratitude fee” of 300,000 USD. Mr. Tuan agreed and subsequently provided consultation and guidance to Ms. Hanh to complete the license application process.
In September 2021, to achieve her goal of obtaining the license renewal, Ms. Hanh purchased 300,000 USD. This amount was then delivered to Mr. Nguyen Van Thang, who was tasked with bribing Mr. Hoang Anh Tuan and Mr. Tran Duy Dong.
Mr. Thang carried the money to the premises of the Ministry of Industry and Trade. On his way to the office of the Domestic Market Department, Mr. Thang checked the amount and took one stack of USD bills, consisting of 50,000 USD (equivalent to over 1.1 billion VND), which he put into his personal bag.
Upon meeting Mr. Tuan and Mr. Dong in their office, Mr. Thang said, “Due to the Covid pandemic, Ms. Hanh cannot come to Hanoi, but she has sent gifts for both of you.” He then placed the bag containing the money close to Mr. Dong’s seat on the sofa.
After Mr. Thang left, Mr. Dong and Mr. Tuan immediately divided the 250,000 USD (equivalent to 5.6 billion VND) between themselves in the same office. Mr. Dong kept 120,000 USD, while Mr. Tuan took the remaining amount.
T.Nhung
