According to the indictment, Sa Huynh Company was initially directed by Ms. Huynh Thi Sa Quol as the legal representative, followed by Mr. Truong Ngoc Liem.
On September 5, 2018, Sa Huynh Company filed an import declaration for a shipment at the ICD Phuoc Long 3 Port in Ho Chi Minh City. Customs inspection results identified the shipment as 1,300 sets of Asanzo brand glass ovens, disassembled and in new condition, without indicating the origin of the goods. As the import was subject to conditions, Customs denied clearance and requested the representative of Sa Huynh Company to address the violations.
Mr. Pham Van Tam before the indictment.
A conclusion on asset valuation determined that the seized goods of Sa Huynh Company had a wholesale value of VND 414.7 million.
On March 3, 2020, Mr. Truong Ngoc Liem was indicted for smuggling. During the investigation, Mr. Liem admitted to the offense and revealed that the purpose of establishing Sa Huynh Company was to import the shipment for Asanzo Company. Mr. Truong Ngoc Liem was tried and convicted of “Smuggling” by the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Court.
Regarding the actions of Mr. Pham Van Tam and individuals with signs of organizing and directing Mr. Liem to commit the smuggling offense, the investigating agency separated the case for further investigation.
Asanzo Owner Denies Involvement
On July 22, 2024, the investigating agency resumed handling the information and included it in the tax evasion case occurring at Asanzo Company.
At the investigation agency, Mr. Tam denied the smuggling offense, stating that at the time of the incident, Sa Huynh Company’s import declaration did not match the customs declaration, and he became aware of this information through the media. Mr. Tam contacted Mr. Liem (a former employee of the company) to inquire about the situation out of concern for the company’s operations. Mr. Tam affirmed that he was not the owner of Sa Huynh Company, nor did he request Mr. Liem to change the business registration or act as the director of Sa Huynh Company. He also denied asking Mr. Liem to contact the customs authorities to clear the non-compliant shipment.
Mr. Liem revealed that when he was invited by the police for questioning, out of fear of being discovered, Mr. Tam instructed him to avoid the authorities and provided him with VND 30 million per month through the account of Ms. Ngo Thi Hien, Mr. Liem’s wife.
Regarding this testimony, the authorities collected various documents such as account statements, data recovery, mobile phone data extraction, and testimonies from related individuals. The account statement of Ms. Ngo Thi Hien showed that from July 2019 to May 2020, her account received VND 30 million per month, totaling VND 360 million, transferred by Asanzo Company employees.
The indictment also stated that Mr. Tam affirmed that he was not the owner of Sa Huynh Company and did not instigate Mr. Liem to flee or avoid the police. Regarding the money transferred to Mr. Liem during his absence, Mr. Pham Van Tam explained that at the beginning of 2018, Ngo Thi Hien (Mr. Liem’s wife) asked to work part-time at the Asanzo factory in the old Binh Tan district. She worked without a labor contract for about two months before leaving to open a hair salon. Out of compassion for her difficult situation, Mr. Tam provided financial support, unrelated to Mr. Truong Ngoc Liem or Sa Huynh Company.
Mr. Pham Van Tam before the indictment.
Confrontation
Mr. Le Hai Duong, former employee and manager of the Asanzo Company’s warranty department, told the police that during his employment, Mr. Tam informed him about a shipment being detained by customs. Mr. Duong relayed this information to Mr. Truong Ngoc Liem, who offered to handle the matter with the customs authorities to retrieve the shipment for the company and communicated directly with Mr. Tam. In July 2019, regarding the situation with Sa Huynh Company, Mr. Pham Van Tam discussed with Mr. Duong and Mr. Liem, asking Mr. Liem to go on a vacation to avoid the police temporarily. The company would cover all expenses (salary) during his absence.
Mr. Duong further stated that during Mr. Liem’s absence, he maintained contact with Mr. Liem at Mr. Tam’s request. Mr. Liem provided his account information to Mr. Duong, who then forwarded it to Mr. Tam. Mr. Tam then transferred money to Mr. Liem through this account, amounting to VND 30 million per month.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Hien, former treasurer of Asanzo Company, testified that following Mr. Tam’s instructions, from July 2019 to May 2020, she gave VND 20-30 million monthly to Asanzo employees to deposit into an account provided by Mr. Tam. Ms. Hien was unaware of the purpose of the money transfers and had no acquaintance with anyone named Ngo Thi Hien.
The indictment mentioned that during the confrontation between Mr. Tam, Mr. Truong Ngoc Liem, Mr. Le Hai Duong, and Ms. Nguyen Thi Hien, all individuals maintained their original testimonies.
“Former Chairman of Tan Tan Company Faces Prosecution: A Case for Ethical Leadership”
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The investigative agency has finalized its additional investigation, maintaining its stance to prosecute Mr. Tran Quoc Tan, the former Director of Tan Tan Joint Stock Company, on two charges.
The Asanzo Scandal: Prosecutors Expose Misconduct by the Company’s Owner
The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Procuracy has issued an indictment charging the owner of Asanzo Company, Pham Van Tam, and his brother with smuggling and tax evasion.
Former Chairman Pham Van Tam Indicted: The Rise and Fall of the Unbeatable Affordable TV
“Once a household name across Vietnam’s rural heartlands, Asanzo and its former chairman, Pham Van Tam, are now infamous for all the wrong reasons. The brand, renowned for its affordable, locally-made televisions, has seen its reputation tarnished as Tam faces charges of smuggling and tax evasion.”
Former Employee Alleges Ex-Chairman of Asanzo Provided Monthly Allowance of 30 Million VND to Evade Police Summons
“Liêm, a key witness in the Asanzo case, alleged that he received a monthly sum of 30 million VND from the former Asanzo Chairman, Pham Van Tam, to avoid police interrogation regarding the illegal shipment. However, the accused has refuted these claims, creating a complex web of allegations and denials that demand further investigation.”
The Asanzo Scandal: Prosecutors Expose Misconduct by the Electronics Company’s Owner
The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Procuracy has issued an indictment charging the owner of Asanzo Company, Pham Van Tam, and his brother with smuggling and tax evasion.
