Former Thanh Hoa vice chairman denies receiving improper payment in sand mining permit case
On November 12, the Hanoi People’s Court resumed the Thanh Hoa sand mining permit trial. Prosecutors allege that former provincial People’s Committee vice chairman Lê Đức Giang improperly approved a transfer of mining rights and issued a permit, causing losses of sand worth more than VND 5.1 billion. He acknowledged errors in the approvals but denied that VND 180 million he received from the company was connected to his official duties.
On the morning of November 12, the Hanoi People’s Court resumed the trial in the Thanh Hoa sand mining permit case. According to the indictment, Lê Đức Giang, a former vice chairman of the Thanh Hoa Provincial People’s Committee, improperly approved the transfer of mining rights for Mine No. 2 and issued a mining permit to Công ty Thiên An Phát while overseeing natural resources and minerals.
The indictment says those actions caused the state to lose more than 46,000 cubic meters of sand in its natural state, worth more than VND 5.1 billion. It also alleges that Lê Đức Giang received VND 180 million from the company. In court, he acknowledged errors in signing the decisions and said he would accept responsibility, but argued that the company that benefited should make good the losses.
Former Thanh Hoa Provincial People’s Committee vice chairman Lê Đức Giang appears in court.（VietVance）
Lê Đức Giang denied that the VND 180 million was a benefit connected to his official duties. He said company director Nguyễn Xuân Tùng and his wife had visited during holidays and given the children lucky money, and that the two families exchanged gifts. He maintained that the money had nothing to do with the sand mining business, despite repeated questioning by the presiding judge.
Lê Đức Giang also said he did not learn that the company had extracted more sand than permitted until the case was opened. He said he had previously asked relevant departments to investigate after media reports, but they found no problems. At the end of questioning, he acknowledged shortcomings in how he carried out his duties in the area under his supervision. The court said it would further examine the relevant conduct during subsequent proceedings.
Defendants in the sand mining permit case appear in court.（VietVance）
In the same case, three former Thanh Hoa officials are on trial for alleged violations of rules on the management and use of state assets. The head of Công ty Thiên An Phát and three company investors are on trial for alleged violations of resource extraction and accounting regulations. Two other people are on trial for alleged illegal resource extraction, and a company executive is on trial for alleged tax evasion.
Source: VietVance
