Court opens hearing to consider appeal of former investigator Hoang Van Hung

On December 20, the High People's Court in Hanoi will open an appeal hearing to consider the appeals of 21 defendants and those with related rights and obligations in the "rescue flight" case.

Among those who filed appeals, Mr. Hoang Van Hung (former Head of Department 5, Security Investigation Agency, Ministry of Public Security) appealed the entire verdict; Mr. Le Van Nghia (Director of Nhat Minh Catering and Tourism Joint Stock Company) appealed the entire verdict and requested a suspended sentence.

Defendant Tran Minh Tuan (Director of Thai Hoa Construction Joint Stock Company) appealed, requesting the Court of Appeal to declare that the defendant was not guilty of "Fraudulent appropriation of property" and not guilty of "Bribery".

The remaining defendants appealed for a reduction in their sentences, for a review of the amount of bribes given and received, and for a reduction in the amount of money to settle the case.

These defendants expressed their hope that the appellate panel would consider some mitigating circumstances, the context of the crime, the severity of the consequences of the violation... to consider allowing the defendants to enjoy leniency under the law, reduce their sentences, and return to their families and society soon.

Among the defendants appealing for a reduction in sentence is Mr. To Anh Dung (former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs). Mrs. Tran Phi Nga, wife of Mr. To Anh Dung, also appealed part of the first instance judgment, asking for the release of the seizure and prohibition of moving the house in Tay Ho Tay project and for the release of the seizure, prohibition of moving and return of the red book of the house in Bac An Khanh.

The appellate court panel consisted of five judges, including three alternate judges. Judge Mai Anh Tai, Chief Justice of the Economic Court of the Hanoi High People's Court, presided over the trial. Representatives of the Hanoi High People's Procuracy participating in the trial included Senior Prosecutors Vu Van Bieu and Le Thi Thu Ha.

Previously, from July 11 to 28, 2023, the Hanoi People's Court brought the rescue flight case to trial. 54 defendants accused of "Giving bribes", "Receiving bribes", "Brokering bribes", "Fraudulent appropriation of property" and "Abusing positions and powers while performing official duties" were sentenced to sentences ranging from 15 months of suspended imprisonment to life imprisonment.

After the first instance verdict, 23 defendants appealed, however, 2 defendants later withdrew their appeals.

21 defendants and people with related rights and obligations in the case have filed appeals, including:

Pham Trung Kien (former Deputy Minister of Health); Vu Anh Tuan (former officer of the Immigration Department, Ministry of Public Security);

Nguyen Thi Huong Lan (former Director of the Consular Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs); To Anh Dung (former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs);

Do Hoang Tung (former Deputy Director of the Consular Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs); Vu Sy Cuong (former officer of the Immigration Department, Ministry of Public Security);

Tran Van Tan (former Vice Chairman of Quang Nam Provincial People's Committee); Hoang Van Hung (former police officer);

Tran Minh Tuan (Director of Thai Hoa Construction Joint Stock Company); Nguyen Thi Thanh Hang (Deputy General Director of Blue Sky Company);

Le Hong Son (General Director of Blue Sky Company); Hoang Dieu Mo (General Director of An Binh Aviation Service Trading Company Limited);

Vo Thi Hong (Director of Minh Ngoc Aviation Trading and Service Company Limited); Le Van Nghia (former Director of Nhat Minh Catering and Tourism Service Joint Stock Company); Tran Thi Mai Xa (Director of MasterLife Company);

Le Thi Ngoc Anh (former official of the Party Central Committee's Foreign Affairs Commission); Pham Bich Hang (in My Dinh ward, Nam Tu Liem district, Hanoi); Nguyen Hoang Linh (former official of the Vietnamese Embassy in Malaysia);

Dang Minh Phuong (former Accountant of the Vietnamese Embassy in Malaysia); Tran Quoc Tuan (Director of Vietnam Trade and Tourism Promotion Joint Stock Company); Pham Thi Kim Ngan (administrative department officer, Thanh Tra Magazine).

In addition, Mr. Nguyen Hoang Quan (husband of defendant Mo) and Ms. Tran Phi Nga (wife of defendant To Anh Dung) also appealed.