This morning, the People's Court of Thai Binh province sentenced defendants Luu Binh Nhuong, Le Thanh Van and their accomplices on charges of 'extortion' and 'abusing position and power to influence others for personal gain'.
Based on the case file, the proceedings at the trial, the aggravating and mitigating circumstances and the provisions of the law, the Trial Panel sentenced the defendant Luu Binh Nhuong to 3 years in prison for the crime of "extortion of property", 10 years in prison for the crime of "abusing position and power to influence others for personal gain"; the total sentence is 13 years in prison. The defendant Le Thanh Van was sentenced to 7 years in prison, the defendant Nguyen Van Vuong was sentenced to 14 years in prison for the crime of "abusing position and power to influence others for personal gain".
The trial panel sentenced defendant Pham Minh Cuong to 7 years in prison for “extortion of property”, together with the previously sentenced sentence of 4 years and 3 months in prison for “extortion of property” and “illegal detention”, for a total sentence of 11 years and 3 months in prison; defendant Vu Dang Phuong to 6 years in prison for “extortion of property”, together with the previously sentenced sentence of 2 years and 9 months in prison for “disturbing public order”, for a total sentence of 8 years and 9 months in prison.
Regarding civil liability, the Trial Panel acknowledged the voluntary agreement between defendant Pham Minh Cuong and Sao Do Company for more than 4 billion VND; forced defendant Luu Binh Nhuong to pay back to the state budget 7.1 billion VND (deducted from the amount the defendant's family had paid, the remaining amount to be paid was 29 million); forced defendant Le Thanh Van to pay back 60 million VND (deducted from the amount already paid, the remaining amount was 10 million VND).
The Trial Panel determined that the indictment of the People's Procuracy of Thai Binh province prosecuted the right person for the right crime, demonstrating the strictness of the law. At the trial, the defendants' actions were clearly pointed out by the Trial Panel in the extortion of property from the Sao Do Company branch, taking advantage of their positions and powers to intervene in the settlement of a civil case occurring at the People's Court of Hai Phong city, interfering in the approval and licensing of the Que Vo III Project of Bac Ninh province; the 36ha Project and interfering in the licensing of the exploitation of the Bac Son hill project (Quang Ninh province) for personal gain.
Regarding the act of “extortion of property” of Sao Do Company, the Trial Panel determined that the acts of the defendants Pham Minh Cuong, Vu Dang Phuong and Luu Binh Nhuong had a negative impact on the security and order situation in the locality, affecting the investment environment of the province. In which, defendant Cuong played the main role, directly carrying out the act, so he received the highest penalty; defendant Phuong played the second role, under the direction of defendant Cuong; defendant Nhuong played the role of accomplice, secondary.
Regarding the act of abusing his position and power to intervene in the approval of the 36ha Project (Quang Ninh), the Trial Panel determined that the defendant Vuong played the role of initiating and enticing the defendants Van and Nhuong; at the same time, it was determined that the value of the assets that this defendant received and aimed for was the most, so he must receive the highest penalty. The defendant Luu Binh Nhuong committed the crime with an active role in practice, as the person who introduced the defendant Van to the defendant Vuong, so he played the second role; the defendant Van played a secondary role.
During the trial, the defendants confessed their crimes, expressed remorse and regret, and hoped to receive leniency from the law.