Hanoi (VNA) – The People’s Court of Hanoi willhold a first-instance trial for ex-Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoangon January 7, 2021.

Hoang is involved in the case of “violating regulations onthe management and use of State assets, causing losses and wastefulness” and“violating regulations on land management,” which occurred at the Ministry ofIndustry and Trade (MoIT) and in Ho Chi Minh City.

This is a serious case drawing public attention. It is also relatedto the construction of a six-star hotel and trade and convention centre on a 6,080sq.m land plot at No 2-4-6 Hai BaTrung Street in HCM City.

The trial is scheduled to take place in one week.

Besides Hoang, nine other defendants will also go before thecourt, including former director of the MoIT’s Light Industry Department PhanChi Dung, former Vice Chairman of HCM City People’s Committee Nguyen Huu Tin,former Director of the HCM City Department of Natural Resources and EnvironmentDao Anh Kiet.

Hoang and Dung are charged with “violating regulations onthe management and use of State assets, causing losses and wastefulness” under Clause3, Article 219 of the 2015 Criminal Code. Meanwhile, the other eight defendantsare accused of “violating regulations on land management” under point b, Clause3, Article 229 of the 2015 Criminal Code.

According to the indictment of the Supreme People’sProcuracy, the Saigon Beer-Alcohol-Beverage Company (Sabeco) under themanagement of the MoIT was allocated the land plot at 2-4-6 Hai BaTrung Street in HCM City’s District 1 with total area of6,080sq.m for non-agricultural production and business, with land rent to bepaid annually.

Hoang, along with former Deputy Minister of MoIT Ho Thi KimThoa and Phan Chi Dung, directed officials of the ministry and Sabeco duringthe process Sabeco used the land-use right of the land plot and its capital ascontributions to a joint venture named Sabeco Pearl between the firm and anumber of private companies to build a six-star hotel, trade and conventioncentre and office for lease at the land plot.

After completing legal procedures for the project, Sabecorequested the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City to allow the addition of officeteland housing functions to the project. Immediately after that, the MoIT directedSabeco to transfer all its stakes in the project to private companies which arepartners in the joint venture. Therefore, the land use right of the State-ownedland plot worth over 3.8 trillion VND was transferred to private firmsillegally, causing more than 2.71 trillion VND of losses to the State.

Nguyen Huu Tin and other defendants who worked at the Ho ChiMinh City Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Department ofPlanning and Investment, and People’s Committee Office, committed violations onland management by giving Sabeco Pearl the right of the project’s investor andthe authority to pay financial obligations and land rent for the land plot, whichran counter to the law.

Another accused person in the case – Ho Thi Kim Thoa - has fled,and the investigation police agency has put her on the wanted list./.