The Saigon Times

Former Hanoi chairman Nguyen Duc Chung – PHOTO: VNA

HCMC – Former Hanoi chairman Nguyen Duc Chung has been charged with appropriating the State’s secret files related to Nhat Cuong Mobile’s accounting irregularities, smuggling and money laundering.

Besides Chung, the Supreme People's Procuracy on November 26 also filed charges against Pham Quang Dung, a former official of the investigation department for corruption, smuggling and economic crimes under the Ministry of Public Security. Chung’s driver, Nguyen Hoang Trung and Nguyen Anh Ngoc, former deputy director of the Editorial Department of the Hanoi City People’s Committee Office, were also charged.

According to the procuracy’s indictment, on May 14, 2019, the Investigative Police Agency under the Ministry of Public Security carried out an investigation into Hanoi-based Nhat Cuong Trading and Services Co., Ltd or Nhat Cuong Mobile.

Chung and his wife, Nguyen Thi Truc Chi Hoa, were determined to involve themselves in the case, the local media reported. To get information and files on the case, Chung got acquainted with Dung, who was assigned to support the investigation into Nhat Cuong Mobile.

On June 16 last year, Chung asked Dung to collect information and documents on the progress and results of the investigation, which Dung agreed to. From July last year to June this year, Dung stole several documents related to the case and even broke into an official’s office to do the job. It was found that Dung provided 12 documents relating to the Nhat Cuong Mobile case to Chung, including six of the State’s secret documents.

On January 22 this year, Chung sent US$10,000 to Dung. However, the Investigative Police Agency has not been able to ascertain why Chung sent the money to Dung, and will further investigate this act.

According to the indictment, Ngoc and Trung were also accused of receiving three of the State’s secret files from Chung and printing them.