The Investigation Police Department under the Ministry of Public Security on December 8 issued a decision to arrest and start legal proceedings against Dinh La Thang, former Chairman of the Member Council of PetroVietnam (PVN).

Dinh La Thang, former Chairman of the Member Council of PetroVietnam

Thang, who is currently a member of the Party Central Committee and deputy head of the Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission, was arrested to serve the investigation of two serious economic cases.

He is suspected of involvement in the case of deliberately violating the State’s regulations on economic management, causing serious consequences (Article 165 of the Penal Code), and abusing position and authority to arrogate property (Article 280 of the Penal Code), causing losses of 800 billion VND in PVN’s investment in OceanBank.

Thang is also thought to have a role in the case of deliberately violating the State’s regulations on economic management, causing serious consequences and committing embezzlement (Article 278 of the Penal Code) in PetroVietnam Construction Corporation related to the Thai Binh 2 thermal power project.

The same day, the Politburo issued a decision on suspending Thang’s Party-related activities as from December 8, 2017.

Also on December 8, the 14th National Assembly’s Standing Committee adopted a resolution suspending Dinh La Thang’s status of a NA deputy.

NA Standing Committee adopts resolutions on arrest of two deputies

The  National Assembly Standing Committee convened its 18th session on December 8, and adopted two resolutions on the prosecution, arrest and suspension of NA deputy status of two NA deputies, Dinh La Thang and Nguyen Quoc Khanh. 

The Committee issued an announcement late December 8, saying that based on the Supreme People’s Procuracy’s proposals, and pursuant to the Constitution, the Law on Organisation of the NA and the NA Standing Committee’s working rules, the Standing Committee discussed and approved Resolution No. 456/NQ- UBTVQH14 dated December 8, 2017 on the prosecution, arrest, search, and temporary suspension of a NA deputy’s duty and power towards Dinh La Thang, a deputy of the 14th legislature. 

Thang is a member of the Party Central Committee and a deputy head of the Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission. He used to be Chairman of the Board of Directors (later Board of Members) of the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PVN). 

The committee also adopted Resolution No. 457/NQ- UBTVQH14 dated December 8, 2017 on the prosecution, arrest, search, and temporary suspension of a NA deputy’s duty and power towards 14th NA deputy Nguyen Quoc Khanh, who was former Chairman of the PVN’s Board of Members. 

Another former PVN chief arrested

A photo of Nguyen Quoc Khanh 

The Investigation Police Department under the Ministry of Public Security on December 8 issued a decision to prosecute Nguyen Quoc Khanh, former Deputy General Director of PetroVietnam (PVN) on the charge of deliberately violating State regulations on economic management causing serious consequence.

The same day, the police also issued arrest and search warrants for Khanh, as part of investigation into two serious economic cases related to the PVN. 

One of which is the deliberate violation of State regulations on economic management causing serious consequence and abuse of position and power to appropriate property, resulting in losses of 800 billion VND in PVN’s investment in Oceanbank.

The other case is the deliberate violation of State regulations on economic management causing serious consequence at the PetroVietnam Construction Corporation related to the Thai Binh 2 thermal power project.

The same day, former Chairman of the PVN Member Council, Dinh La Thang was also prosecuted and arrested in relation to the two cases.

Thang is currently a member of the Party Central Committee and deputy head of the Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission. 

Also on December 8, the National Assembly Standing Committee convened the 18th session, during which the committee agreed to suspend the National Assembly deputy status of both Khanh and Thang.

VNA