On November 21, the People’s Court of Ho Chi Minh City continued the first-instance trial of defendant Mai Thi Hong Hanh, former Director and Chairman of the Members’ Council of Cross-Vietnam Oil Trading, Transportation, and Tourism Company Limited (Cross Vietnam Oil), and 14 accomplices for serious offenses related to the gasoline business.
At the trial, a crucial point focused on by the representative of the City Procuracy was the purpose and content of the call between the former Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade and “godmother” Mai Thi Hong Hanh.
Defendant Do Thang Hai (behind)
According to Hanh’s testimony, during the process of applying for a gasoline business license renewal in 2021, she sought help from former Deputy Minister Do Thang Hai. Explaining why she did not submit the application through the regular process but instead “asked for help,” Hanh stated that at that time, Cross Vietnam Oil was signing a contract with a partner from Singapore, but the application for a license was returned by the “one-door” department as the company did not meet the requirements, including lacking agents and other procedures.
Therefore, instead of submitting the application through the regular “one-door” process, Hanh had to seek help from a higher-up. At that time, Cross Vietnam Oil was in a hurry to sign the contract with the Singaporean partner, and obtaining the license became urgent.
The female defendant testified that she presented these difficulties to Mr. Do Thang Hai. After the license was approved, Mr. Hai proactively called to inform her, “I’ve just signed it; you contact the one-door department to get the license.” Ms. Hanh responded, “Thank you so much; I will visit you when I have time.”
According to the indictment, Mr. Hai later received VND 1.139 billion from Ms. Hanh.
Regarding Ms. Hanh’s testimony, Mr. Hai stated, “When Ms. Hanh called me, she did not mention anything about the company’s situation at that time, nor did she specifically ask for any procedure. Yes, I did call Mr. Hoang Anh Tuan (then-Deputy Director of the Domestic Market Department), but at that time, I received many calls every day, especially during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Mr. Hai affirmed that he did not give any directions but only reminded Mr. Tuan that the company’s license was about to expire and asked him to expedite the process and complete the procedures soon. When asked if Cross Vietnam Oil met the requirements for the license, Mr. Hai admitted that the company did not meet “100% of the requirements.”
Explaining the reason for calling Ms. Hanh after signing the license, Mr. Hai stated that he wanted to reassure her so that she could continue her business with peace of mind.
In the afternoon of the same day, the Trial Panel announced that the trial would be adjourned for the day on November 22… According to the plan, the representative of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Procuracy will propose sentences for the defendants on November 25.
Regarding this matter, the indictment showed that in June 2021, License No. 09 dated August 22, 2016, granted by the Ministry of Industry and Trade to Cross Vietnam Oil was about to expire. As the company did not meet the conditions for license renewal, defendant Mai Thi Hong Hanh discussed and instructed Nguyen Van Thang (then-Deputy Director of Cross Vietnam Oil, Hanoi Branch) and Dong Xuan Dung (Cross Vietnam Oil employee in Hanoi) to prepare bribes and offer them to officials and leaders of the Domestic Market Department and the Ministry of Industry and Trade to request license renewal.
Through the introduction of Nguyen Loc An, in mid-June 2021, Ms. Hanh contacted Mr. Do Thang Hai (then-Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, in charge of the Domestic Market Department) to seek help in renewing the license. Ms. Hanh promised to thank Mr. Hai once the company obtained the license. Mr. Hai agreed and introduced Ms. Hanh to Hoang Anh Tuan (then-Deputy Director of the Domestic Market Department, in charge of gasoline business licensing) for specific guidance. At the same time, Mr. Hai called Mr. Tuan and instructed him to promptly consider and resolve Cross Vietnam Oil’s application for license renewal.
Through the introduction, Ms. Hanh contacted Mr. Hoang Anh Tuan. Mr. Tuan reported this to Mr. Tran Duy Dong (then-Director of the Domestic Market Department), and both agreed to facilitate Cross Vietnam Oil’s license renewal following Mr. Do Thang Hai’s direction.
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