Hong Kong billionaire proposes to "save" Truong My Lan, wife Thanh Bui gets reduced sentence

Recently, during the trial of Van Thinh Phat and SCB cases, Mr. Phan Trung Hoai, the lawyer of the defendant Truong My Lan, unexpectedly sent to the Trial Council a document dated March 27 of Dr. Justin Chiu, CEO of CK Asset Holdings Limited.

This is one of Hong Kong's largest investment groups in the real estate sector founded by billionaire Li Ka-shing. The document is transmitted to the Trial Council and the Procuracy on facilitating negotiations to invest in projects as well as proposing some comprehensive solutions for SCB-related assets.

The presiding judge said that this document has not been consular legalized according to regulations, so the council did not consider and reminded the defendant's lawyer Truong My Lan not to mention this letter, to avoid misunderstanding and miscommunication.

It is known that in May 2022, CK Asset Holdings Limited, one of Li Ka-shing's two investment groups, offered to cooperate with Van Thinh Phat Group to invest in Ho Chi Minh City. HCMC, providing opportunities to develop the infrastructure of this city.

Returning to the Van Thinh Phat case, in the latest development, according to VKS, throughout the trial process, many defendants repented and actively paid remedial money, defense lawyers also suggested adding mitigating circumstances for some defendants.

Therefore, VKS noted and requested the Trial Council to consider imposing new penalties and mitigating sentences for the defendants in the wrongdoing case at Van Thinh Phat Group, Saigon Commercial Joint Stock Bank (SCB) and related organizations compared to the impeachment on the afternoon of March 19.

Specifically, for Ms. Truong Hue Van (General Director of Van Thinh Phat Group Company), VKS has proposed to reduce the penalty to 17-18 years in prison, instead of 19-20 years.

According to VKS, Ms. Truong Huiyun repented, presented the criminal process directed by Ms. Truong My Lan and depended completely on her person, Ms. Truong My Lan.

Ms. Truong Hue Van's defense lawyer provided mitigating circumstances such as: certificates of merit, letters of thanks for COVID-19 prevention, certificates of merit from central ministries and agencies. At the same time, during the trial, Ms. Zhang Huiyun also lobbied her family to pay more money to overcome the consequences.

Mr. Chu Lap Co (Chairman of the Board of Directors of Times Square Company), VKS proposed reducing the penalty to 10-11 years in prison, instead of 11-12 years. According to VKS, Mr. Zhou Lap Co did not participate in running the SCB, committing the crime because he trusted his wife, Ms. Zhang My Lan. At the trial, Mr. Zhou also sincerely admitted to the crime.

The defendants received a reduction of 1 year in prison

Mr. Nguyen Cao Tri (Chairman of Van Lang Education Management and Investment Joint Stock Company, Chairman General Director of Capella Company) was recommended by VKS to reduce the penalty to 9-10 years in prison, instead of 10-11 years.

During the trial, Mr. Nguyen Cao Tri and his family recovered nearly 761 billion VND (initially 700 billion VND, during the course of the trial, the family fixed another 61 billion VND). At the same time, in court, Nguyen Cao Tri's defense lawyer provided many mitigating circumstances.

For the defendants who belong to the State Bank supervision inspection group

VKS assessed that the defendants belonging to the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) supervision inspection group sincerely declared and returned all beneficiaries. In court, defense lawyers for the defendants presented a variety of reasons for the difficulty, which limited inspection oversight.

Therefore, VKS also proposed reducing the fine for Nguyen Van Hung (former Deputy Chief Inspector in charge of the Banking Supervision Inspection Agency) to 11-12 years in prison, instead of 14-15 years.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Phi Loan (former Deputy Director of Department II - SBV), VKS proposed reducing the penalty to 5-6 years in prison, instead of 6-7 years.

Mr. Vo Van Thuan (former Deputy Chief Inspector of the State Bank of Ho Chi Minh City), VKS proposed reducing the penalty to 6-7 years in prison, instead of 7-8 years.

Mr. Phan Tan Trung (Deputy Chief Inspector of the State Bank of Ho Chi Minh City), VKS proposed reducing the penalty to 6-7 years in prison, instead of 7-8 years.

Mr. Nguyen Tin (former Head of the Monitoring Team at SCB), VKS proposed reducing the penalty to 4-5 years in prison, instead of 5-6 years.

Ms. Truong My Lan cried, did not admit guilt, and was called mother by Thanh Bui's wife, revealing one thing JLO16:31:31 11/03/2024On March 11, the jury continued the trial of the Van Thinh Phat case with questioning of defendants Truong My Lan (former Chairman of Van Thinh Phat Group) and Nguyen Cao Tri - former Chairman of Capella Group.