During the appeal trial held this morning (March 25), lawyer Nguyen Trong Nghia stated that since late December 2024, Trinh Van Quyet has been suffering from severe pulmonary tuberculosis, requiring intensive treatment in the hospital.

A medical consultation on March 14 confirmed that Quyet is in critical condition, suffering from grade 3 heart failure and multiple other health issues, which endanger his life. Consequently, he was deemed too unwell to attend the trial, prompting the defense to request a postponement.

Lawyer Nghia appealed to the court to give Quyet sufficient time to resolve the financial consequences of the case.

“Despite his current health challenges, the defendant has made substantial progress in compensating the damages. Since the initial verdict, Quyet and his family have repaid nearly $42 million, benefiting 132 affected individuals,” Nghia said.

According to Nghia, Quyet has already compensated the full amount of $21 million in the "market manipulation" charge. Additionally, Quyet’s wife has committed to paying an additional $4-8 million within the week and has vowed to continue making payments toward the remaining balance.

The presiding judge noted that this is the second time the appeal trial has been scheduled. Previously, Quyet had also requested a postponement due to health issues and to have more time to fulfill his financial obligations.

Following the initial trial, Quyet had compensated around $10.7 million. By December 26, 2024, an additional $12.6 million was repaid. As of now, Quyet and his family have paid approximately $42 million, including amounts on behalf of his two sisters.

The total amount of compensation owed by Quyet is about $100 million, meaning approximately $58 million remains outstanding, encompassing all necessary restitution.

Another defense lawyer for Trinh Van Quyet argued that the request for a postponement is justified, as addressing the financial consequences would be beneficial not only to Quyet but also to other defendants in the case.

The lawyer also suggested unfreezing the assets of Trinh Minh Hue and Trinh Thi Thuy Nga to facilitate the sale of properties and generate funds for compensation. Representatives from FLC’s business partners have convened and proposed viable solutions to assist with restitution, pledging to resolve the financial consequences by May.

Some defense attorneys echoed the call for a postponement, citing that successful compensation would positively impact their clients’ outcomes. However, Le Hai Tra’s lawyer (former Deputy General Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange) opposed the delay, arguing that it would not benefit his client.

Trinh Dac Sinh, former Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange, also objected to the postponement and called for the trial to proceed.

Representatives from the Supreme People’s Procuracy acknowledged that Quyet’s health is severely compromised, posing a high risk of mortality. They also noted that his family had committed to repaying an additional $4-8 million within the week and pledged to clear the remaining amount by the end of May.

The Procuracy noted that since the first postponed trial to date, Quyet has repaid approximately $16.8 million. The family's efforts to mitigate the damage, despite the defendant’s critical condition, were recognized as positive steps.

To ensure the legal rights and interests of all parties, including the defendants and victims, the Procuracy recommended granting one final postponement. If Quyet remains unable to attend future sessions due to health reasons, the trial should proceed based on the current level of compensation achieved.

The court recessed to deliberate and will announce its decision on whether to continue or postpone the trial at 2:30 PM.

T. Nhung