Trial of former Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science and Technology and subordinates

This is a case under the supervision and direction of the City Steering Committee for Anti-Corruption and Negativity.

The trial has been postponed several times. The most recent postponement on September 29 was due to the hospitalization of defendant Phan Minh Tan (former Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science and Technology) and defendant Nguyen Quoc Thai (former Deputy Head of the Technology Management Department); and defendant Khuat Duy Vinh Long (former officer of the Technology Management Department) absconding.

During the trial proceedings, the representative of the People's Procuracy requested to postpone the trial to verify the health status of Nguyen Quoc Thai as the defendant continued to be absent due to hospitalization. The trial panel discussed and decided to continue the trial. Former Director of the Department of Science and Technology Phan Minh Tan and 5 subordinates were prosecuted for violating regulations on management and use of public investment capital, causing serious consequences, causing losses of more than 22.6 billion VND.

According to the indictment, in August 2009, Nguyen Trong Vu - Director of Huy Hoang Technology Investment and Development Company (Huy Hoang Company, specializing in chip manufacturing) sent an official dispatch to the City Department of Science and Technology requesting financial support of 5.1 billion VND from the science career budget to implement project 1.

After the project review board chaired by Phan Minh Tan reviewed and approved, Huy Hoang Company was supported with 4.9 billion VND, for a period of 18 months, the funding progress was divided into 3 phases.

Although the progress of Huy Hoang Company's project was slower than planned, Phan Minh Tan and his accomplices still proposed and approved the second round of funding of 700 million VND. After receiving the second round of funding, Huy Hoang Company failed to complete the project and did not return the recovered funds. According to the appraisal conclusion, the project caused a loss of nearly 3.2 billion VND.

In September 2009, Nguyen Trong Vu continued to send an official dispatch to the Department of Science and Technology requesting a loan of 10 billion VND to carry out another project. After the appraisal and approval steps, in early 2010, Phan Minh Tan signed a document concluding that the project met the requirements, agreed to lend despite many objections that the project was not feasible, and at the same time requested to review the capital source of Huy Hoang Company.

In April 2019, Ho Chi Minh City Urban Development Investment Fund (HIFU) signed a contract to lend Huy Hoang Company 10 billion VND, term 48 months, interest rate 0%, disbursement progress divided into many installments. After receiving the third installment on May 13, 2011, Nguyen Trong Vu fled the country to the US.

Defendant Phan Minh Tan admitted that although he knew Huy Hoang Company did not have enough financial capacity and was limited, he still supported the company considering that the electronic chip manufacturing sector was being encouraged by the State. However, the defendant did not admit to the crime because he believed that the loan approval was in accordance with regulations.

During the investigation, the Investigation Agency issued a decision to prosecute and search for Nguyen Trong Vu, Director of Huy Hoang Company, for the act of abusing trust to appropriate property. In April 2017, the Investigation Agency temporarily suspended the investigation of Vu, and will deal with him later when he is arrested.