Former Hanoi Chairman Nguyen Duc Chung has been indicted in a case involving trees.

On the afternoon of March 22, Lieutenant General To An Xo, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Public Security, announced that the Police Investigation Agency of the Ministry of Public Security is investigating a case of smuggling and violations of regulations on the management and use of state assets causing losses and waste, which occurred in Mong Cai City (Quang Ninh), the Urban Infrastructure Maintenance Board under the Hanoi Department of Construction, Hanoi Greenery Company, and related units, organizations, and individuals.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Chung (Photo: QP).

As a result of the expanded investigation into the case, the Police Investigation Agency of the Ministry of Public Security determined that Nguyen Duc Chung, former Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee, abused his position and authority to violate state regulations by having Green Ecology Company, Hanoi Greenery Company, and Nguyen Tuan Nghia (companies and individuals with close ties to Nguyen Duc Chung) be designated by the Hanoi People's Committee to carry out tree planting work in Hanoi from 2016 to 2018. From this, the individuals benefited illegally from a particularly large sum of money, causing exceptionally serious damage to state property.

Nguyen Duc Chung's actions constitute the crime of Abusing Position and Authority while Performing Official Duties, as stipulated in Article 356 of the Penal Code.

On March 21, the Investigation Police Department of the Ministry of Public Security issued a supplementary decision to initiate a criminal case for the crime of Abusing Position and Authority while Performing Official Duties. Simultaneously, they issued a decision to prosecute and a temporary detention order against Mr. Nguyen Duc Chung for the aforementioned crime.

After approval by the Supreme People's Procuratorate , the Investigation Police Department of the Ministry of Public Security implemented the aforementioned decisions and orders in accordance with the law.

This is the fourth case in which Mr. Chung has been prosecuted. The former Hanoi chairman is currently serving a total of 12 years in prison across three cases: misappropriation of confidential documents, procurement of Redoxy-3C products, and interference in bidding at the Hanoi Department of Planning and Investment.

Previously, in January 2022, the Investigation Police Department of the Ministry of Public Security issued a decision to prosecute and temporarily detain Mr. Vu Kien Trung - Chairman of Hanoi Green Parks Company Limited.

Mr. Trung is under investigation for violating regulations on the management and use of state assets, causing losses and waste. He is being investigated for directing subordinates to falsify project budget documents submitted to the investor for approval and ordering, as a basis for payment and settlement in violation of the law, causing serious damage to state assets.

The investigating agency has also prosecuted several defendants, including: Nguyen Xuan Hanh - General Director of Hanoi Green Parks Company Limited, Do Quang Tien - Director of the Greenery and Ornamental Plant Enterprise under Hanoi Green Parks Company Limited...

Initial investigations have determined that during the implementation of the program to plant, replace, supplement, and care for trees in Hanoi, the defendants colluded to inflate the value of trees and falsify project cost estimates to approve orders for payment in violation of the law, causing serious damage to state property.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/phap-luat/cuu-chu-tich-ha-noi-nguyen-duc-chung-bi-khoi-to-vu-an-cay-xanh-20230322155946980.htm