On November 14, the Hanoi People’s Court sentenced the defendant Duy Duc Tuan (DOB 1974, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Pacific Financial Investment Group Joint Stock Company – Pacific Company) to 12 years in prison for “Robbery of property”.
Defendant Duy Duc Tuan at the previously postponed trial. Photo: H.L.
According to the case file, in 2009, the defendant Duy Duc Tuan’s company operated in the field of real estate consulting, management, and project management. In early October 2009, Tuan asked a friend in the US to buy a black Mercedes Benz S550 for $75,000, registered under the Pacific Company’s name.
After the car was shipped to Hai Phong Port, Tuan could not import it due to unfamiliarity with the import procedures.
Through an introduction, Tuan learned about Son Tung Bao Tin Limited Company, directed by Mr. Vu Hung Son, which operated in the automobile industry and had car import capabilities. Tuan contacted them and asked for their help in importing his car. Mr. Son agreed and delegated the task to his subordinates.
On November 5, 2009, the two companies signed a Memorandum of Agreement, which stated that Son Tung Bao Tin Company would import a Mercedes S550 on behalf of Pacific Company for a service fee of $2,000. Son Tung Bao Tin Company would then assign Anh Viet Investment Joint Stock Company (specializing in freight transport by car) to complete the import procedures as per regulations.
However, during their collaboration, disputes arose, and in 2016, Duy Duc Tuan filed a complaint with the Hanoi Police, accusing Mr. Vu Hung Son of fraudulently appropriating 1.7 billion VND through the contract to import the Mercedes Benz S550 of Pacific Company.
Subsequently, the Investigation Agency decided not to initiate a prosecution, determining that the matter was a civil relationship without any criminal indicators, and notified Tuan of the complaint resolution.
Nevertheless, from 2018 to 2020, Duy Duc Tuan sent numerous petitions to the Economic Police (C03) of the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Anti-Smuggling Bureau, and central leaders, accusing Mr. Son of falsifying documents to smuggle the aforementioned vehicle (the content of which overlapped with Tuan’s previously resolved complaint).
In addition, Tuan continuously posted articles along with Mr. Son’s civil servant records and profile, which were being kept at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and openly shared them on the Facebook social network.
Through social connections, around June 2020, Mr. Son (then Deputy Chief of Staff of the National Steering Committee 389) learned of Tuan’s online activities. Fearing the impact on his reputation and work, Mr. Son asked his friends to contact Tuan and advise him to stop sending petitions.
In conversations with Mr. Son’s friends, Tuan threatened to continue sending complaints to get Mr. Son “fired”… Duy Duc Tuan demanded that Mr. Son pay him 10 billion VND to withdraw the petitions. Later, Tuan changed his demand to 7.5 billion VND.
Mr. Son disagreed as the requested amount exceeded his financial capacity, and he believed that the accusations against him were unfounded. Due to concerns about his job, Mr. Son reported the matter to the Hanoi Police, accusing Tuan of robbery. On April 18, 2023, Duy Duc Tuan was arrested and detained for investigating the robbery charge.
At the trial, Mr. Son stated that due to Tuan’s numerous lawsuits, he was not reappointed to his position.
The New Golden Age: Reclaiming Our Priceless Treasures
On September 25, the Hanoi People’s Court of Appeals tried Do Anh Dung, former Chairman of the Tan Hoang Minh Group, for his appeal to reduce his sentence for “fraudulent appropriation of property.”
The Former Director’s Persistent Request: Summoning the Chairman of the Tân Hoà ng Minh Group to Court
In the three prior adjournments, the defendant, Nguyen Sy Ta, refuted the indictment and requested the court to summon Do Anh Dung, Chairman of Tan Hoang Minh Group, for cross-examination. However, Mr. Dung was absent on all occasions.
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.
