Appeal hearing opens for ex-police official

Hanoi, May 23 (VNA) – The Court of Appeals under the Supreme People’s Court on May 22 opened a hearing in Hanoi for Duong Tu Trong, former Deputy Director of the northern port city of Hai Phong's Police Department, and his six accomplices for organising for a wanted person to flee abroad. The judging council includes three judges from the Supreme People’s Court. Attending the first day of the hearing are lawyers who defend six appellants and witnesses. On January 8, the Hanoi People’s Court sentenced Trong to 18 years’ imprisonment on charge of helping his brother Duong Chi Dung, ex-chairman of State-owned shipping corporation Vinalines, flee from Vietnam. According to the indictment, after receiving a tip that his brother would be arrested and prosecuted, Trong colluded with his accomplices to arrange for Dung to escape via the Moc Bai border gate in southern Tay Ninh province on May 23, 2012. Dung ran away to Cambodia to escape from police wishing to arrest him for his detrimental mismanagement of Vinalines. Later he was captured by Cambodian police and extradited home to face court proceedings. The Vinalines ex-boss eventually received death sentence for embezzlement and intentionally violating State regulations on economic management causing severe consequences. Trong’s accomplices were also handed jail sentences of varying severity. Vu Tien Son, ex-Deputy Head of the Social Crime Investigation Police Section of Hai Phong Police Department, received 13 years in prison; Hoang Van Thang, a former officer of the Environmental Crime Investigation Police Section of Hai Phong Police Department, 5 years; and Nguyen Trong Anh, Son’s former subordinate, 6 years. Dong Xuan Phong, a former official at Hai Phong City Customs Department, received 7 years in prison; Tran Van Dung, 45, aka Dung “Bac Kan”, a resident in Hai Phong’s Hong Bang district, 8 years; and Pham Minh Tuan, former Director of Bach Dang Enterprise in Hai Phong city, 5 years. After the first trial, six out of the seven accused, excluding Hoang Van Thang, appealed against the court’s verdicts.-VNA