Nguyen Thanh Tai, former permanent vice chairman of the HCMC People’s Committee in the 2011-2015 tenure, was again charged with alleged violations of regulations on the management of State assets at a public music center.

Former HCMC vice chairman Nguyen Thanh Tai is seen at an interview with Tuoi Tre newspaper in early 2018 

The Ministry of Public Security (MPS) said in a statement on its website on January 25 that the criminal case took place at the HCMC People’s Committee, the HCMC Light Music Center in District 3 under the current HCMC Department of Culture and Sports, Diep Bach Duong Real Estate Co., Ltd., and the HCMC branch of the Vietnam Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Agribank).

Having taken available documents and evidence into account, the Investigative Police Agency at the MPS on January 18 decided to take legal proceedings against Tai, 67; Tran Nam Trang, incumbent deputy director of the HCMC Finance Department, who took office in late 2009; Nguyen Thanh Rum, 66, former director of the HCMC Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism; and Vy Nhat Tao, 63, former director of the HCMC Light Music Center.

These individuals were charged with allegedly violating regulations on the management of State assets, leading to losses and wastefulness.

Duong Thi Bach Diep, director of HCMC-based Diep Bach Duong Real Estate Co., Ltd. is formerly known as a successful businesswoman in the real estate sector – PHOTO: VIETNAM FINANCE

Meanwhile, Duong Thi Bach Diep, 78, director of HCMC-based Diep Bach Duong Real Estate Co., Ltd., was suspected of obtaining property by deception, in line with the 2015 Penal Code.

Diep was known as a successful businesswoman in the real estate sector. Vietnam Finance news site reported that she is currently the legal representative of two companies. Founded in 2002, Diep Bach Duong Co. has charter capital worth over VND905.6 billion in which she holds a majority stake of 57.54%.

Investigators found that these defendants had committed violations of the management and exchange of State assets between the music center and the company, resulting in serious losses for the State.

They are now being kept in police custody. The MPS stated that further investigation is underway in a concerted effort to recover State assets and strictly handle these individuals.

Last month, Tai was arrested for his alleged involvement in the illegal leasing and transfer of a State-owned 5,000-square-meter prime land lot in the city’s central business district to four businesses under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, with no-bid contracts, causing million-dollar losses to the State budget.

SGT