Hanoi (VNA) – The Hanoi-based High-Level People’sCourt on April 27 upheld the life imprisonment for former Minister ofInformation and Communications Nguyen Bac Son, who committed wrongdoings in theMobiFone-AVG deal.

According to the jury, in2015, the MobiFone Telecommunications Corporation carried out a TVservice investment project in which it used State capital to buy 95 percent of the Audio Visual Global JSC (AVG)’s shares for 8.9 trillion VND(379 million USD). The Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC), whichrepresents the State ownership at MobiFone was responsible for directing thisfirm’s implementation of this project and approving the project after the PrimeMinister gave the go-ahead.

However, the defendants,who held different positions and roles at MobiFone, the MIC and the AMAXinvestment consultancy and valuation company, violated legal regulations whenthey proposed the project; assessed the AVG’s financial and business situation;evaluated the company; used the valuation results to negotiate and decide sharepurchase prices; and made, submitted and approved the investment project,causing a “particularly serious loss” of over 6.59 trillion VND to the State.

The appeal court said asMIC Minister then, Nguyen Bac Son directly guided MobiFone’s purchase of AVGshares, signed the decision on the foundation of the valuation team and agreedon the purchase price of over 8.9 trillion VND for the 95 percent of AVG shares.He also ordered that the deal be carried out right in 2015.

During the projectimplementation, Son discussed with Pham Nhat Vu, former Chairman of the AVG Board of Directors, for many times. After MobiFone transferred the money tothe AVG, he received a 3 million USD bribe from Vu.

At the trial, Nguyen BacSon pleaded guilty.

The jury upheld the life sentencefor him, including the life imprisonment for “taking bribes” and 16 years inprison for “violating regulations on the management and use of publicinvestment capital, causing serious consequences”.

Meanwhile, other defendantsin the case received reduced sentences.

Le Nam Tra, former Chairmanof MobiFone, will spend four years in prison, down by three years from theverdict in the first-instance trial, for “violating regulations on themanagement and use of public investment capital, causing serious consequences”.However, the penalty of 16-year imprisonment for “taking bribes” was stillupheld. The total sentence is 20 years behind bars.

For “violating regulationson the management and use of public investment capital, causing seriousconsequences”, former deputy general directors of MobiFone Ho Tuan, Nguyen ManhHung, Pham Thi Phuong Anh and Nguyen Bao Long were given the sentence of12-year imprisonment each. The initial penalty for them was 2 years and 6months in prison.

Nguyen Dang Nguyen, anotherformer Deputy General Director of MobiFone, received 12 months’ probation,compared to the initial prison sentence of two years.

Phan Thi Hoa Mai, formermember of MobiFone’s member council, and Hoang Duy Quang, a valuation officerat AMAX, will be respectively sentenced to 12 months and 14 months in prison. Theinitial punishments for them were 2.5 years and three years in jail,respectively./.