The path of 300 million VND
On the afternoon of January 22, the appeal trial of the fake textbook trading case involving defendant Tran Hung, former Deputy Director of the Market Management Department, former Head of Group 304, now Group 1444 (General Department of Market Management), entered the questioning phase.
The Trial Panel (PC) of the High People's Court in Hanoi questioned the defendants to clarify the accusation that former Deputy Director Tran Hung received a bribe of 300 million VND.
In court, defendant Le Viet Phuong (former Deputy Head of Market Management Team No. 17, Hanoi) stated that in July 2020, he discovered a warehouse of pirated books belonging to Phu Hung Phat Company, whose director was Cao Thi Minh Thuan.
During the process of handling the case, Phuong informed Thuan about the violations at this company.
After that, Phuong received 2 phone calls from Mr. Tran Hung asking him to handle the case lightly, so he did as he was told. Because it had been a long time, the defendant did not remember the content of each call.
Defendant Phuong affirmed that, apart from Tran Hung, no one else had any influence in lightly handling the case of discovering pirated books of Phu Hung Phat Company.
After handling the mitigation for Phu Hung Phat Company, Phuong received 310 million VND in "thank you" money from Cao Thi Bich Thuan.
The defendant used this money to buy furniture, personal expenses and brought it home.
Defendant Cao Thi Minh Thuan stated that in July 2020, Le Viet Phuong inspected the book warehouse of Phu Hung Phat Company.
Mr. Tran Hung attended the inspection. Afterwards, Thuan contacted the defendant Hung to ask for a lighter sentence.
At court, Cao Thi Minh Thuan affirmed that she did not meet defendant Tran Hung in person but texted and called him many times on July 10, 14 and 15, 2020 to ask for leniency.
Former Deputy Director Tran Hung at the appeal hearing on the afternoon of January 22 (Photo: Nguyen Hai).
The panel of judges asked: - In the calls, did you ask for help or beg Tran Hung?
The defendant replied: - In the first phone call, the defendant asked Tran Hung for leniency. In the phone call on July 14, 2020, Tran Hung said Le Viet Phuong was helping, so he should rely on Phuong for everything.
According to Thuan's testimony, at noon on July 14, 2020, Thuan gave Nguyen Manh Ha, Deputy Director of Hanoi Printing and Culture Communication Joint Stock Company, 300 million VND and told him to give it to Nguyen Duy Hai (freelance worker) to transfer to Mr. Tran Hung.
The amount of 300 million VND given to Tran Hung includes 4 stacks of 500,000 VND and 5 stacks of 200,000 VND.
"The defendant did not directly witness Hai giving money to Tran Hung, but the case was later resolved (only administrative penalties were imposed)," Thuan stated.
In court, defendant Nguyen Manh Ha said that on July 15, 2020, he gave Nguyen Duy Hai 300 million VND. This amount of money was for Hai to give to defendant Tran Hung.
"The defendant and Hai hang out together in society. Hai often goes hunting for illegal establishments to report to the authorities," Ha said about her relationship with Nguyen Duy Hai.
Former Deputy Director affirms not accepting bribes
After the testimony of Le Viet Phuong, Cao Thi Minh Thuan and Nguyen Manh Ha, defendant Tran Hung affirmed that these testimonies were completely inaccurate.
"In the 10 years I have worked, no one who sells counterfeit goods can bribe me," Mr. Hung said, affirming that he did not direct or influence Le Viet Phuong to lightly handle the case of Phu Hung Phat Company.
The former Deputy Director presented that according to the regulations of the market management industry, all matters are directly managed and directed by the Director.
The director assigns a team leader to go inspect and the deputy team leader is responsible for implementation.
Mr. Tran Hung asserted that the book smuggling case involving Cao Thi Minh Thuan had sufficient grounds for criminal prosecution. After learning that Thuan’s group was only subject to administrative penalties, the defendant requested that the case be transferred to the police for investigation and handling.
Defendant Tran Hung at trial (Photo: Nguyen Hai).
Mr. Hung also confirmed that he did not know who Cao Thi Minh Thuan was, the only time he met Thuan was at the search of Phu Hung Phat Company's book warehouse in July 2020.
After discovering the illegal book warehouse of Phu Hung Phat Company, Thuan called and texted to ask to meet but Mr. Hung did not agree.
The former Deputy Director also stated that he did not know who Nguyen Duy Hai was and did not receive any money from Hai.
Mr. Hung stated that on July 14, 2020, Hai arranged to meet him at a coffee shop. At this meeting, Hai only praised Mr. Hung for discovering a large case of pirated books, without mentioning any help to Phu Hung Phat Company.
At noon on July 15, 2020, Hai continued to go to Mr. Hung's office. At that time, there were two other people in the room. After that, Hai forgot the black bag, so Mr. Hung asked his colleague to call Hai back to get the bag and take it home.
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