This afternoon (September 24), during the trial of the Van Thinh Phat case’s second phase, the judge allowed lawyers to question the defendants charged with “fraudulent appropriation of property.” There are 29 defendants in this category, including Ms. Truong My Lan, chairwoman of the Van Thinh Phat Group.
A surprising development in today’s court session was lawyer Nguyen Thi Huyen Trang’s (from the Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association, defending four accused in the case) request to address Ms. Lan, despite not being her legal representative.
 Lawyer Nguyen Thi Huyen Trang |
According to lawyer Nguyen Thi Huyen Trang, the 29 Lieu Giai building (Hanoi) is valued at VND 2,112 billion and is currently mortgaged to a bank for a loan of USD 250 million. The building is owned by three shareholders, and a friend of Ms. Lan, currently in the US, is willing to pay off the USD 250 million loan on their behalf and lend Ms. Lan an additional USD 130 million to help her resolve the consequences of this case.
Lawyer Nguyen Thi Huyen Trang also mentioned that for the 6A project, spanning 26 hectares in Trung Son, Binh Chanh, Ho Chi Minh City, the same friend from the US is prepared to deposit a sum of money into the prosecuting agency’s temporary account and hand over the 6A project to them, with the buying and selling details to be discussed later, provided Ms. Truong My Lan agrees.
“If Ms. Truong My Lan agrees, I will represent her friend in the US to negotiate and discuss specific terms to help Ms. Lan mitigate the consequences of this case,” said lawyer Nguyen Thi Huyen Trang.
Ms. Truong My Lan stated that the 6A project has not been sequestered, and she has always wanted to rectify all the damages caused by the case. She added that she does not care about the value as long as the person has genuine funds and intends to develop the project.
In response to lawyer Huyen Trang’s statements, Ms. Lan expressed her gratitude to her friends through the lawyer. She agreed to the two points raised by lawyer Nguyen Thi Huyen Trang and will discuss and agree on specific terms later.
“I appreciate the support of my friends who are willing to help rectify the situation for the creditors during this challenging period,” said Ms. Truong My Lan.
Presiding Judge Nguyen Thi Ha (Vice President of the Criminal Court, Ho Chi Minh City People’s Court) spoke on behalf of the panel, requesting that the parties submit documents for the panel’s consideration and assistance in mitigating the consequences.
In the “fraudulent appropriation of property” charge, Ms. Truong My Lan and her accomplices are accused of defrauding 35,824 victims of VND 30,000 billion. Ms. Lan is also on trial for money laundering of over VND 445,000 billion and illegal cross-border currency transportation of USD 4.5 billion.
Tan Chau
The Secrets of Mrs. Truong My Lan: Unveiling the Truth About the Amigo, 6A-Trung Son Project
When questioned about the damages incurred, defendant Truong My Lan expressed a steadfast commitment to rectifying the situation and making amends.
The Milbourne Group Scandal: Phase 2 – A Tale of Contrasting Attitudes and Behaviours
The ongoing trial uncovers the illegal activities of Truong My Lan, the former Chairwoman of the Van Thinh Phat Group, and her 33 accomplices. The extent of their lawlessness is being revealed, with each hearing shedding light on their wrongdoing.
The Van Thinh Phat Trial Phase 2: The Investigation’s Focus Takes Center Stage
Responding to the Court’s inquiries, the defendants repeatedly emphasized the directive role of Nguyen Phuong Hong (former SCB Vice President and Assistant to the Van Thinh Phat Group, now deceased), despite the authorities having dropped the investigation into this individual.
The Zhang Meilan Case, Phase 2: Safeguarding the Interests of the Victim Despite Their Absence
The People’s Court of Ho Chi Minh City has confirmed that the upcoming trial in absentia of Truong My Lan and her accomplices (phase 2) will not infringe upon the legal rights and interests of the victims and other involved parties.
