According to a decision by the Hanoi People's Court, former Vice Chairman of the Thanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee Le Duc Giang and 10 co-defendants are scheduled to stand trial on October 29.

Judge Le Quang Chieu will preside over the proceedings.

The Hanoi People's Procuracy will be represented by prosecutors Vu Manh Long, Nguyen Duc Anh and Nguyen Thanh Lam.

Giang and three other former officials face charges of violating regulations on the management and use of state assets, causing losses and waste.

The other defendants are Pham Van Hoanh, former Deputy Director of the Thanh Hoa Department of Agriculture and Environment; Nguyen The Hung, former Head of the Mineral Resources Division under the department; and Nguyen Van Tam, former specialist at the Industry, Construction, Science and Technology Division of the Thanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee Office.

The remaining defendants face charges of violating regulations on natural resource exploitation, violating accounting regulations causing serious consequences, and tax evasion.

Alleged violations driven by personal interests

According to the indictment, Giang and his accomplices allegedly violated their assigned responsibilities and legal regulations while appraising, advising on and approving the transfer of mineral exploitation rights and the issuance of a mining license to Thien An Phat Minerals Joint Stock Company at Mine No. 2.

Prosecutors allege that the violations were motivated by personal relationships and financial gain, resulting in state asset losses exceeding VND 5.1 billion (approximately US$194,000).

At the time, Giang served as Vice Chairman of the Thanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee and was authorized to exercise the chairman's powers in directing and handling assigned matters.

He was directly and fully accountable to the chairman, the Provincial People's Committee, the Provincial People's Council and the law for his decisions.

Giang was specifically assigned to assist the provincial chairman in overseeing natural resources, mineral management and the operations of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment.

During the process of transferring mineral exploitation rights and granting a mining license for Mine No. 2 to Thien An Phat, Giang signed documents approving the transfer of exploitation rights and issued the company's mineral exploitation license.

Prosecutors allege that these decisions violated state regulations governing mineral resource management.

According to the indictment, Giang's actions resulted in the loss of 46,051.44 cubic meters of sand in its natural state, equivalent to 51,807.88 cubic meters of loose sand.

The total value of the lost resources exceeded VND 5.1 billion.

Giang allegedly received VND 180 million (approximately US$6,840) in illicit benefits.

In the same case, former Deputy Director of the Thanh Hoa Department of Natural Resources and Environment Pham Van Hoanh is accused of failing to fulfill his responsibilities.

Under his assigned duties, Hoanh was required to take full responsibility for his decisions before the department director and the law.

During the approval process for the transfer and licensing of mineral exploitation rights at Mine No. 2, Hoanh initialed documents and advised the department director to sign a proposal requesting provincial approval for the transfer.

He also personally signed a submission asking the Provincial People's Committee to grant a mineral exploitation license to Thien An Phat.

Prosecutors allege that these actions violated state regulations on mineral resource management and contributed to losses exceeding VND 5.1 billion.

The indictment states that Hoanh received VND 60 million (approximately US$2,280) in illicit benefits.

Authorities said the defendants, their families and other individuals involved in the case have collectively paid more than VND 87 billion (approximately US$3.3 million) to remedy the consequences of the alleged violations.

T. Nhung