Reduced Sentences for Ex-VICEM Officials in Appeal

Following a week-long appeal process, the Appellate Panel of the Supreme People's Court in Hanoi has announced a reduction in prison sentences for several ex-officials of the Vietnam Cement Corporation (VICEM) related to their roles in the company's headquarters construction on Pham Hung Street. The defendants faced charges linked to mismanagement of state resources, resulting in considerable financial losses and regulatory breaches.

The court found that the actions of these individuals had inflicted serious economic damage and undermined public trust in state asset oversight. The judges noted that these leaders, who played pivotal roles in VICEM, were responsible for strategic decisions during the project’s planning and execution. Investigators determined there was no personal gain for the defendants, but their project management violated essential investment and bidding laws, leading to an unfinished facility.

During the appeal, the court considered several newly presented mitigating factors, including the defendants’ cooperation with authorities and expressions of remorse. Collectively, they contributed over 119 billion Vietnamese dong to compensate for the project-related losses. Additionally, their previous commendations and professional achievements were taken into account.

Of particular note was the case of Nguyen Ngoc Anh, former General Director of VICEM. His request for acquittal was denied; however, the judges did take into consideration his age, significant health issues, and respected career, reducing his sentence from 15 years to 13 due to two offenses.

Other notable reductions included Du Ngoc Long, who saw his sentence drop from 12 years and 6 months to 9 years, and Hoang Ngoc Hieu’s sentence, reduced from 11 years to 10 years for similar charges related to state asset management.

Furthermore, former VICEM Chairman Le Van Chung had his prison term diminished from 13 years to 10 years, while Ta Quang Buu's sentence was lowered from 9 years to 7 years. The court's decision reflects the defendants' efforts to rectify their mistakes and the presence of additional mitigating factors introduced during the appeal.

In its ruling, the court underscored that although the offenses were serious and required firm penalties, humanitarian considerations and efforts toward rehabilitation should not be disregarded. Several other former executives from Vietnam Construction Consulting Corporation (VNCC) were also granted reduced sentences and suspended terms. This verdict represents a significant update in one of Vietnam’s most scrutinized cases of state enterprise corruption and mismanagement, balancing accountability with the legal process's emphasis on rehabilitation.