Former Deputy Minister of National Defence Nguyen Van Hien

The Criminal Investigation Agency under the Ministry of National Defence andthe Central Military Procuracy on October 22 issued a decision to place Hienunder house arrest, according to the ministry.

The investigation is part of a fraud and land management case involving DinhNgoc He, alias Ut troc, former chairman andgeneral director of Thai Son Development and Investment JSC.

Ngoc He was sentenced to 10 years in prison by the Central Military Court for“abusing position and power while performing official duties”, and another twoyears for “using falsified documents of agencies and organisations”.

Earlier, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc decided to impose disciplinarymeasures against Hien. Accordingly, he was stripped of his status as formerCommander of the Vietnam People’s Navy.

The Politburo has also stripped Hien of the following job titles: member of theParty Committee of Central Military Commission for 2005-2010 and member of theParty Committee of the Vietnam People’s Navy for 2005-2010 (including thetitles of Vice Secretary, member of the Standing Board and member of the PartyCommittee). 

According to the Politburo, during his time serving as Vice Secretary of theParty Committee and Commander of the Vietnam People’s Navy, Hien was responsiblefor serious violations and mistakes of the Standing Board of the PartyCommittee of the Vietnam People’s Navy regarding the management and use ofdefence land under the management of the navy.  

Hien was also responsible for violating legal stipulations on landmanagement and use, and construction on ten plots of defence land.
He violated the principle of centralizeddemocracy and regulations of the Party Committee of the Vietnam People’s Navy,and showed slack leadership and supervision. 

Competent agencies said Hien’s violations and mistakes were very serious,causing large losses to the State and the army, and resulting in a number ofofficers and Party members in the naval force being prosecuted and investigated,thus adversely affecting the reputation of the Party, army and Hien himself./.VNA