On September 22, the People's Procuracy of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province issued an indictment prosecuting Mr. Tran Van Cuong (61 years old, former director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province) for "Lack of responsibility causing serious consequences," related to violations that occurred at the Fisheries Sub-Department of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of the province, causing losses of more than 34.6 billion VND.
The People's Procuratorate of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province also prosecuted 12 defendants for the crimes of "Fraudulent appropriation of property," "Illegal trading of invoices," and "Abuse of power and authority while performing official duties."
Former Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Ba Ria - Vung Tau.
Specifically, defendants Le Minh Xuan (Director of Tan Trung Thinh Investment and Trading Company Limited), Tran Van Tai, Nguyen Van Hieu, Nguyen Van Sang, Nguyen Van Hung, and Dang The Hung (all ship owners) are being prosecuted for the crime of "Fraudulent appropriation of property".
The defendants Nguyen Vu Ha (Head of the Inspection Department), Nguyen Quoc Cong (inspector), Dao Hong Duc (Director of the Fisheries Inspection Center), Nguyen Duc Hoang (Deputy Head of the Fisheries Sub-Department, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development), and Dinh Cao Thuong (Head of the Fisheries Management and Fisheries Logistics Service Facilities Department) are being prosecuted for the crime of "Abusing their position and authority while performing official duties".
In addition, defendant Le Minh Xuan (Director of Tan Trung Thinh Investment and Trading Company Limited) is also prosecuted for the crime of "Illegal trading of invoices". Defendant Nguyen Duc Hung (owner of the business) is prosecuted for the crime of "Illegal trading of invoices".
Previously, on August 24th, the Investigation Police Department of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province transferred the case file to the People's Procuracy of the same level, requesting the prosecution of former Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Van Cuong and 12 other defendants related to violations that occurred at the Fisheries Sub-Department of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of the province.
According to the investigation conclusions of the Ba Ria - Vung Tau Police, the defendant Tran Van Cuong, former Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province, was assigned by the Provincial People's Committee to direct the Fisheries Sub-Department to inspect and supervise ship owners in the construction of new fishing vessels, and to preside over the appraisal and approval of support.
However, the defendant Cuong instructed the Fisheries Sub-Department to allow Nguyen Duc Hoang and Dinh Cao Thuong to abuse their positions and authority, intentionally acting against regulations and causing damage to the State budget of over 34.6 billion VND.
According to the investigation's conclusions, defendant Tran Van Cuong, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, repeatedly signed submissions requesting the Provincial People's Committee to approve support for fishing vessels belonging to defendants Tran Van Tai, Nguyen Van Hieu, Nguyen Van Sang, Nguyen Van Hung, and Dang The Hung.
Specifically, on June 19, 2020, defendant Tran Van Cuong signed submission No. 199/TTr-SNN, requesting the Provincial People's Committee to approve the adjustment of technical specifications for newly built fishing vessels belonging to defendants Tai, Hieu, and Sang.
On July 8, 2020, the Provincial People's Committee issued Decisions No. 1833, 1834, and 1835/QD-UBND approving the adjustment of technical specifications for newly built fishing vessels, increasing the main engine power and raising the investment cost for the three aforementioned fishing vessels.
Regarding the two steel-hulled fishing vessels, on August 28, 2020, defendant Tran Van Cuong signed submission No. 276/TTr-SNN, requesting the Provincial People's Committee to approve the adjustment of the technical specifications of Nguyen Van Hung's fishing vessels.
On September 17, 2020, the People's Committee of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province issued a decision approving the adjustment of the technical specifications of the fishing vessel, increasing the investment cost for shipbuilding for the defendant Nguyen Van Hung.
On November 4, 2020, defendant Tran Van Cuong continued to sign a submission requesting the Provincial People's Committee to approve the technical adjustments to shipbuilding in Decision No. 1885 and 2821/QD-UBND for the ships of defendants Nguyen The Hung and Nguyen Van Hung.
On December 22, 2020, the Provincial People's Committee issued a decision approving the adjustment of the technical specifications of the new fishing vessels belonging to defendants Dang The Hung and Nguyen Van Hung.
Regarding the three composite-hulled fishing vessels, on November 4, 2020, defendant Tran Van Cuong, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, signed submission No. 338/TTr-SNN-CCTS requesting the Provincial People's Committee to approve support for the fishing vessel of defendant Tran Van Tai.
On December 4, 2020, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Nguyen Van Tho, signed Decision No. 3620/QD-UBND approving a one-time post-investment support payment of over 6.5 billion VND to defendant Tran Van Tai under Decree 17.
By December 21, 2020, the defendant Tài had received the entire amount of financial assistance.
Previously, on November 8, 2020, defendant Tran Van Cuong also signed submission No. 362/TTr-SNN-CCTS requesting the Provincial People's Committee to approve support for defendants Hieu and Sang.
On December 22, 2020, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee signed Decision No. 3834/QD-UBND and No. 3835/QD-UBND approving a one-time support payment under Decree 17 for defendant Nguyen Van Hieu in the amount of over 6.5 billion VND and for Nguyen Van Sang in the amount of over 6.5 billion VND.
On December 30, 2020, Hieu received the full amount of financial assistance. On January 18, 2021, Sang received the full amount of financial assistance.
On January 4, 2021, Tran Van Cuong continued to sign a submission requesting the Provincial People's Committee to approve support for two steel-hulled fishing vessels. On January 19, 2021, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee signed Decision No. 125 and 126/QD-UBND approving a one-time post-investment support payment under Decree 17 for Nguyen Van Hung and Dang The Hung, each receiving over 7.5 billion VND.
Regarding the irregularities in the disbursement of support payments for fishing vessels, which caused a loss of 34.6 billion VND to the State budget, the Investigating Police Agency has determined that five fishing vessels registered under the names of Tran Van Tai, Nguyen Van Hieu, Nguyen Van Sang, Nguyen Van Hung, and Dang The Hung are both evidence in the case and valuable assets to guarantee compensation for damages.
Therefore, the Investigating Police Agency ordered the seizure of assets related to the five fishing vessels, handing them over to the defendant's family and the shipbuilding company for safekeeping at their respective shipbuilding facilities.
To date, 13 defendants in the case have returned over 35 billion VND as compensation for damages.
Luong Y
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