Prosecution of former Director of Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Ba Ria

On September 22, the People's Procuracy of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province has just issued an indictment to prosecute Mr. Tran Van Cuong (61 years old, former director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province) for the act of "Lack of responsibility causing serious consequences", related to violations occurring at the Department of Fisheries, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of the province, causing a loss of more than 34.6 billion VND.

The People's Procuracy of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province also prosecuted 12 defendants involved in the crimes of "Fraudulent appropriation of property", "Illegal trading of invoices" and "Abusing position and power while performing official duties".

Former Director of Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Ba Ria - Vung Tau.

Specifically, the defendants Le Minh Xuan (Director of Tan Trung Thinh Trading and Investment Company Limited), Tran Van Tai, Nguyen Van Hieu, Nguyen Van Sang, Nguyen Van Hung, and Dang The Hung (all ship owners) were 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 Fishing Vessel Inspection Center), Nguyen Duc Hoang (Deputy Head of the Fisheries Sub-Department, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development), Dinh Cao Thuong (Head of the Fisheries Management Department and Fisheries Logistics Service Facility) were prosecuted for the crime of "Abusing position and power while performing official duties".

In addition, defendant Le Minh Xuan (Director of Tan Trung Thinh Trading and Investment Company Limited) was also prosecuted for the crime of "Illegal trading of invoices". Defendant Nguyen Duc Hung (owner of the business establishment) was prosecuted for the crime of "Illegal trading of invoices".

Previously, on August 24, the Investigation Police Agency of Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province transferred the case file to the People's Procuracy of the same level, proposing to prosecute former Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Van Cuong and 12 other defendants related to violations occurring at the Department of Fisheries, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of the province.

According to the previous investigation conclusion of Ba Ria - Vung Tau Police, 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 building new fishing vessels, and to preside over the appraisal and approval of support.

However, defendant Cuong assigned the Department of Fisheries to let Nguyen Duc Hoang and Dinh Cao Thuong take advantage of their positions and powers, intentionally violating the law, causing damage to the state budget of more than 34.6 billion VND.

Also according to the investigation conclusion, defendant Tran Van Cuong, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, continuously signed documents to request the Provincial People's Committee to approve support for fishing boats of 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 document No. 199/TTr-SNN, requesting the Provincial People's Committee to approve the adjustment of technical specifications of newly built fishing vessels for three vessels of defendants Tai, Hieu and Sang.

On July 8, 2020, the Provincial People's Committee issued Decision No. 1833, 1834 and 1835/QD-UBND approving the adjustment of technical specifications of newly built fishing vessels, increasing the main engine capacity and increasing the investment cost of building the 3 fishing vessels mentioned above.

Regarding the two steel-hulled fishing boats, on August 28, 2020, defendant Tran Van Cuong signed document No. 276/TTr-SNN, requesting the Provincial People's Committee to approve the adjustment of technical specifications of Nguyen Van Hung's fishing boat.

On September 17, 2020, the People's Committee of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province issued a decision approving the adjustment of technical specifications of fishing vessels, increasing the investment cost of building ships for defendant Nguyen Van Hung.

On November 4, 2020, defendant Tran Van Cuong continued to sign a request for the Provincial People's Committee to approve 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 technical specifications of the new fishing vessel of the accused Dang The Hung and Nguyen Van Hung.

Regarding the 3 composite fishing vessels, on November 4, 2020, defendant Tran Van Cuong, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, signed document No. 338/TTr-SNN-CCTS requesting the Provincial People's Committee to approve support for defendant Tran Van Tai's fishing vessel.

On December 4, 2020, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Van Tho signed and issued Decision No. 3620/QD-UBND approving one-time post-investment support according to Decree 17 for defendant Tran Van Tai in the amount of more than 6.5 billion.

By December 21, 2020, defendant Tai received the entire amount of support.

Previously, on November 8, 2020, defendant Tran Van Cuong also signed document 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 and issued Decision No. 3834/QD-UBND, No. 3835/QD-UBND approving one-time support according to Decree 17 for defendant Nguyen Van Hieu in the amount of more than 6.5 billion and support for Nguyen Van Sang in the amount of more than 6.5 billion.

On December 30, 2020, Hieu received the full amount of support. On January 18, 2021, Sang received the full amount of support.

On January 4, 2021, Tran Van Cuong continued to sign a request for the Provincial People's Committee to approve support for 2 steel-hulled fishing boats. On January 19, 2021, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee signed and issued Decision No. 125 and 126/QD-UBND approving one-time post-investment support according to Decree 17 for Nguyen Van Hung and Dang The Hung, each of whom was over 7.5 billion.

Regarding violations in the payment of fishing vessel support, causing a loss of 34.6 billion VND to the State budget, the Investigation Police Agency determined that 5 fishing vessels owned by Tran Van Tai, Nguyen Van Hieu, Nguyen Van Sang, Nguyen Van Hung and Dang The Hung were both evidence of the case and valuable assets to ensure compensation for damages.

Therefore, the Investigation Police Agency has ordered the seizure of assets of the above 5 fishing boats, handing them over to the defendant's family and the shipbuilding company for safekeeping at the shipbuilding facilities.

To date, 13 defendants in the case have returned more than 35 billion VND in compensation.

Luong Y

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