On the afternoon of December 25, at the appeal trial of the “rescue flight” case, the panel of judges spent time questioning defendant Nguyen Thi Huong Lan (former Director of the Consular Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs) about what she used the 25 billion VND in bribes for.
Defendant Nguyen Thi Huong Lan was accused of receiving bribes of more than VND25 billion and has paid back more than VND1 billion. At the first instance trial, the Hanoi People's Court sentenced defendant Lan to life in prison. Defendant Lan appealed for a reduction in her criminal liability.
At today’s trial, defendant Lan admitted to receiving more than 25 billion VND from businesses, affecting the reputation and honor of the Party, the State, and the people. However, Ms. Lan stated that she could not remember the exact number of times she received the money, accepting the number stated in the indictment and the first instance judgment.
When asked by the jury about where the more than 25 billion VND went and what the money was used for, a huge amount of money that has not yet been fully paid for, defendant Lan could not answer. The defendant could not remember clearly what he used the money for and his family had no more money to pay to pay for the consequences of the case.
During nearly 10 minutes of questioning, the panel of judges repeatedly asked defendant Lan about the bribe amount of 25 billion VND, but Ms. Lan's answer was: "The defendant really wants to make amends, but the defendant's family no longer has the ability."
Defendant Do Hoang Tung (former deputy director of the Consular Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs) received a bribe of more than 12 billion VND. Mr. Tung was sentenced to 12 years in prison by the first instance court. After the first instance verdict, Mr. Tung appealed for a reduced sentence.
Defendant Tung said he had repented and only hoped that the panel of judges would consider his wrongdoings more objectively and comprehensively. The former deputy director of the Consular Department also urged his family to completely remedy the consequences.
Former Vice Chairman of Quang Nam Province People's Committee Tran Van Tan was accused of accepting a bribe of 5 billion VND and was sentenced to 6 years in prison by the first instance court. After the first instance verdict, Mr. Tan appealed for a reduction in his criminal liability.
Presenting in court today, Mr. Tan admitted his wrongdoings. Immediately after the incident, the defendant filed a statement declaring all his wrongdoings and actively cooperated with the investigation agency to remedy the consequences.
Defendant Tan also presented a number of details in the hope that the panel of judges would consider mitigating his sentence, such as: Having many achievements in work; making efforts to create conditions for 40,000 citizens returning to Vietnam from abroad to be quarantined in Quang Nam; receiving petitions from many organizations to reduce his sentence...
Source
Comment (0)