PM orders strict handling of Vinashin case

The Vietnamese prime minister has demanded thorough investigation and strict punishments against those responsible for theaccumulated debt of more than US$4 billion of the state-owned shipbuilder Vinashin.

A ship assembled by the Vietnam Shipbuilding Industry Group (Vinashin)’s Ha Long Ship Building Company in the northern Quang Ninh Province.

Officials should make public any developments in the investigations, PM Nguyen Tan Dung told a mid-year review meeting of the Central Anti-Corruption Committee on Wednesday.

He instructed relevant agencies to investigate and punish anyone guilty of violations in the Vinashin case.

Since the corruption cases came to light last year, Vinashin has undergone massive restructuring to stabilize the industry. Dung said the Party and central government would continue to develop shipbuilding in the country.

According to major general Hoang Kong Tu, chief investigator at the Ministry of Public Security, the ministry is investigating ten suspects, eight of whom have been detained.

Among the detainees is Pham Thanh Binh, former chairman and general director of Vinashin, who was arrested last August on charges of “deliberately violating state regulations causing serious consequences.”

The police have issued international search warrants against two fleeing suspects – Ho Ngoc Tung, 53, former director of Vinashin Financial Company, and Giang Kim Dat, 33, former business manager of Vinashin Ocean Shipping Company.

Tu said the detainees had admitted their crime, and the Ministry of Public Security is coordinating with other countries to search for Tung and Dat.

The chief investigator said other names, which come up during the investigation, will be investigated thoroughly for any wrongdoings.