Content of the trial of Truong My Lan case

Defendant Truong My Lan (68 years old, Chairwoman of Van Thinh Phat Group) was tried for three crimes: embezzlement of property; bribery; and violation of lending regulations in the operations of credit institutions.

Defendant Truong My Lan in court on March 5.

In addition, 85 defendants were prosecuted for the crimes of embezzlement; bribery; abuse of power and position while performing official duties; lack of responsibility causing serious consequences and violating regulations on banking operations... Among these 85 defendants, there are 45 former leaders and officers of SCB; 15 former officers of the State Bank; 3 former officers of the Government Inspectorate; one former officer of the State Audit, 7 defendants from the valuation company...

On the first day, the trial mainly focused on the background checks of 86 defendants. About 200 lawyers completed procedures to participate in the defense at the trial.

The defendants were taken from the detention center to the court in dozens of special vans, with traffic police cars joining the convoy. Security at the trial in Ho Chi Minh City was tightened.

Defendant in court case

NGOC DUONG

Truong My Lan is both the defendant and the victim.

Defendant Truong My Lan is the only defendant in this case to be tried in both the capacity of defendant and victim. The defendant has 5 lawyers participating in her defense.

On the first day of the trial, the panel of judges said that 79 out of 86 defendants were present at the trial. Five defendants who are wanted will be tried in absentia; the remaining two defendants requested to be tried in absentia due to poor health and pregnancy.

For those with related rights and obligations, on the first day of trial, 68/1,494 organizations and individuals were summoned to be present...

According to the panel of judges, those with related rights and obligations have given statements at the investigation agency, so this absence does not affect the content of the case. Therefore, the panel of judges continues to try the case.

Defendant Truong My Lan: "I studied until grade 12"

The indictment shows that this is the case determined to have caused the greatest damage ever, with total damage to SCB Bank of about 498,000 billion VND.

At court today, the judge asked the defendant Truong My Lan what grade she had studied, and the defendant Lan answered that she had finished 12th grade. The judge continued to ask: "Before committing the crime, what did you do for a living?" The defendant Truong My Lan answered: "I was the Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Van Thinh Phat Group."

In this case, defendant Truong My Lan's husband, Chu Lap Co (68 years old, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Times Square Investment Joint Stock Company), was proposed to be prosecuted for violating regulations on banking activities and other activities related to banking activities.

The indictment shows that defendant Chu Lap Co is the founder and owner of 99.26% of shares of Times Square Vietnam Joint Stock Company. The defendant and his wife jointly operate the Times Square building project, with functions such as an office complex, hotel, luxury apartments, and commercial center at the land plots 22-36 Nguyen Hue and 57-69F Dong Khoi, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.

When the interpreter translated about the rights and interests of defendant Chu Lap Co, the defendant said he did not clearly understand the charges. The court asked the interpreter to translate again, but the defendant said he understood.

Defendant Nguyen Cao Tri (Chairman of the Board of Directors and General Director of Van Lang Education Investment and Management Joint Stock Company and Capella Group Joint Stock Company) was prosecuted for "abuse of trust to appropriate property" when he tried to appropriate 1,000 billion VND from defendant Truong My Lan. During the background check, the police had to escort the defendant to the dock to answer the questions of the jury.

Defendant Nguyen Cao Tri said he suffered a spinal injury, so he asked the panel of judges to try him in absentia.

At the court, the presiding judge announced that the lawyers participating in the trial of this case must be present throughout the trial, and that any absence would be considered a waiver of their rights. The presiding judge added that the trial could last longer (scheduled to last until April 29). If necessary, the panel of judges will work on Saturdays and Sundays.

On March 6, the trial continued with the announcement of the indictment and the questioning.

Truong My Lan took over and gutted SCB

Truong My Lan was accused of not holding any position at SCB, but with 91.5% of shares, controlling and directing all activities of SCB Bank.

According to the indictment, from 2012 to 2022, Truong My Lan used her ecosystem with more than 1,000 domestic and foreign companies, with Van Thinh Phat Group as the center, then divided into 4 main groups, closely related to each other.

The financial group includes: SCB, Tan Viet Securities Company, Viet Vinh Phu Finance Joint Stock Company; a group of companies operating in hotels, restaurants, and real estate; a group of "ghost" companies in Vietnam; a group of foreign company networks in many territories and "tax haven" countries.

After that, defendant Truong My Lan directed accomplices in the case to create fake loan documents, SCB disbursed 2,257 loans/more than 1 million billion VND - accounting for 93% of the bank's loan amount.

By 2022, the defendants still had 1,284 loan applications, equivalent to an outstanding debt of VND 677,286 billion (principal debt of VND 483,971 billion, interest/fees of VND 193,315 billion), in the group of irrecoverable loans.

The indictment shows that, after deducting the value of the collateral, the indictment determines that defendant Lan caused damage to SCB of about 498,000 billion VND.

To conceal the extremely weak situation and violations at SCB, defendant Truong My Lan also "spent" 5.2 million USD on former Director of the Department of Banking Inspection and Supervision II (Department II) of the State Bank Do Thi Nhan; spent from 100 million VND to nearly 10 billion VND on 16 other officials at the State Bank.

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/noi-dung-xet-xu-vu-an-truong-my-lan-van-thinh-phat-ngay-dau-tien-185240305231507741.htm