In March 2016, Hanh was introduced and became acquainted with An who was then deputy director of MOIT’s Domestic Market Management Department. An was the senior official who was in a position to help Hanh obtain a license for petroleum product trading.

At that time, Xuyen Viet Oil wanted to trade petroleum products, but it could not meet the requirements to become a petroleum distributor or retailer. At a meeting in HCM City, Hanh asked for An’s help in obtaining the license.

An then agreed to help Hanh to obtain a license for petroleum product trading for Xuyen Viet Oil and told Hanh that the licensing would cost VND5-7 billion.

An told Hanh to legalize the conditions for licensing and submit dossiers to MOIT’s ‘one-stop-shop unit’, so that An could handle the dossiers.

As instructed by An, Hanh contacted several enterprises, discussed cooperation and signed contracts with enterprises serving as petroleum retail agents for Xuyen Viet Oil, so as to have enough retail agents as required by the law.

After fulfilling all necessary procedures as instructed by An, Hanh, as CEO of Xuyen Viet Oil, signed a document to MOIT, asking for the ministry to grant a license for petroleum product trading.

On August 18, 2016, a MOIT inspection delegation led by Nguyen Loc An came to Xuyen Viet Oil to examine the company’s conditions and find out if the company can meet the requirements for trading petroleum products.

Though Xuyen Viet Oil could not satisfy all requirements as stipulated by the laws, An still signed a document confirming that Xuyet Viet met all requirements for petroleum trading.

An later reported to the police that before and after the inspection tour, the defendant received money from Hanh, totaling VND250 million.

Just days after the inspection, An signed a document to Do Thang Hai, who was then Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, confirming that Xuyen Viet Oil could satisfy the requirements to become a petroleum trader and proposed granting a license to Xuyen Viet Oil.

The company got the license to trade and import/export petroleum products on August 22, 2016 which was valid until August 2021.

The investigation agency found that Hanh had many times given bribes to An. At the meeting in March 2016, Hanh gave VND50 million and at the meeting in May 2016 another VND100 million.

Hanh also invited An to her home for dinner and gave him a Patek Philippe watch, which An sold later for $23,000.

The total amount of cash An received from Xuyen Viet Oil was VND400 million.

T. Nhung