VICEM Leaders' Sentences Reduced Following Appeal

A week-long appeal hearing culminated in the Appellate Panel of the Supreme People's Court in Hanoi reducing prison sentences for several former officials at the Vietnam Cement Corporation (VICEM). This decision was linked to violations surrounding the corporation’s headquarters construction project on Pham Hung Street in Hanoi, involving mismanagement of state assets and severe breaches of bidding regulations that generated significant losses.

The court ruled that the actions of the defendants inflicted considerable economic damage and undermined public faith in the management of state-owned resources. The judges noted that these individuals occupied crucial leadership roles within VICEM, which made them accountable for major decisions during the project's planning and execution. Investigators found no personal gain motives, yet the project’s mishandling resulted in an incomplete development that was ultimately not operational.

Throughout the appeal, the court considered new mitigating factors brought forth by the defendants. Each of the accused acknowledged their mistakes, cooperated with authorities, and demonstrated remorse. They collectively paid over 119 billion Vietnamese dong to offset the financial losses incurred by the project. Additionally, the court reviewed numerous honors and records reflecting the defendants’ prior professional achievements.

A significant ruling pertained to Nguyen Ngoc Anh, former General Director of VICEM. While his request for acquittal was denied, the court accepted mitigating circumstances, including his age and poor health. The judges reduced his sentence from 15 years to 13 years due to his ongoing cancer treatments and advanced age.

Other notable reductions were granted to former executives, including Du Ngoc Long, whose sentence went from 12 years and 6 months to 9 years. Hoang Ngoc Hieu’s term was reduced from 11 years to 10 years, both linked to state asset mismanagement and bidding violations.

Le Van Chung, the former Chairman of VICEM, received a reduction from 13 years to 10 years, while Ta Quang Buu's sentence was lowered from 9 years to 7 years. The appellate court indicated that these cuts were due to the defendants’ efforts to rectify the situation and additional mitigating factors presented during the appeal.

The court emphasized that while the offenses warranted significant penalties, humanitarian considerations and efforts to correct past mistakes could be factored into sentencing. Several additional defendants from Vietnam Construction Consulting Corporation (VNCC) also received sentence reductions and suspended terms. This ruling is a key moment in one of Vietnam’s most scrutinized corruption and mismanagement cases within state enterprises, reflecting both the essence of accountability and the judicial system's focus on rehabilitation.