The Ministry of Public Security’s Security Investigation Agency has just issued a supplementary conclusion on the case of “Abusing position and power, lack of responsibility causing serious consequences”, which occurred at the Ministry of Industry and Trade and provinces and cities related to the Trung Nam Solar Power Plant.
Accordingly, the Ministry of Public Security has proposed to prosecute former Deputy Minister Hoang Quoc Vuong for the crime of abusing position and power while performing official duties. Along with Vuong, there are 8 other cadres.
It is known that this is the third time the investigation agency has issued a supplementary conclusion, and still maintains the view of proposing to prosecute 12 state officials. Previously, this case had an investigation conclusion in May 2024, but the Procuracy returned the file twice requesting re-investigation. Notably, according to the Ministry of Public Security, during the third supplementary investigation, the Investigation Agency summoned and took statements from Tran Tuan Anh, former Minister of Industry and Trade for the 2016-2021 term and Trinh Dinh Dung, former Deputy Prime Minister.
According to the Ministry of Public Security, in this case, although former Minister Anh directly signed 6 submissions, he caused a loss of more than VND1 trillion ($40 million). Specifically, at the Trung Nam Solar Power Plant project, from October 2020 to September 30, 2023, EVN made incorrect payments for electricity purchases, causing a loss of more than VND1.043 trillion.
The fact that Anh was not criminally prosecuted in the wind power case of the Ministry of Industry and Trade immediately caused a stir on social networks. The public questioned why the Ministry of Public Security prosecuted Deputy Minister Vuong but not Minister Anh.
According to the Ministry of Public Security, in the assignment of tasks in the leadership of the Ministry of Industry and Trade for the 2016-2021 term, Vuong was assigned to be in charge of the Department of Electricity and Renewable Energy. At the same time, Vuong was directly responsible for directing the construction of this project.
Accordingly, when signing the submissions and reports, Minister Anh did not know that Vuong directed the adjustment to expand the scope of subjects contrary to Resolution No. 115 of the Government. The investigation results showed that there were no documents or evidence showing that Anh had a profit motive. Therefore, criminal prosecution of Anh was not considered.
Similarly, for former Deputy Prime Minister Dung, the Ministry of Public Security also said that there was no document or evidence showing that he received money or other material benefits. Therefore, criminal proceedings against Dung were not considered.
On social networks, there have been interesting comparisons, according to which former Standing Deputy Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City Tat Thanh Cang, who signed to approve the sale of 9 million shares of SADECO, causing a loss of VND669 billion, received a sentence of 8 years and 6 months in prison. In addition, Cang also took advantage of approving the sale of cheap land in 2 projects, also causing a loss of VND207 billion, and was also sentenced to 6 years in prison. The total sentence of convict Cang is 14 years and 6 months in prison.
Public opinion has questioned why the Ministry of Public Security has determined that former Minister Anh signed 6 reports, causing losses of more than VND1 trillion, but has not been criminally prosecuted. Likewise, is it reasonable for General Secretary To Lam to accept the reason that there was no profit motive?
Moreover, this is a loss of thousands of billions of VND, which is the people’s tax money, and should we consider whether profit motives need to have a reason? While the anti-corruption law in Vietnam has specifically stipulated that anyone who is corrupt or takes bribes of VND1 billion or more must receive a life sentence or the death penalty.
Is it true that former Minister of Industry and Trade, former Politburo member, Head of the Central Committee’s Economic Commission Tran Tuan Anh is the son of former State President Tran Duc Luong, and is this a “forbidden zone” or an exceptional case, General Secretary To Lam?
Tra My – Thoibao.de
