Vietnam investigators recommend prosecution of real estate tycoon

By Anh Minh
Sat, September 30, 2023 | 5:32 pm GMT+7

Vietnam’s investigative police have proposed indicting Do Anh Dung, chairman and CEO of Tan Hoang Minh Group, and other 14 associates over fraudulent appropriation of property.

Their conclusion in a case that rocked the country early last year was announced Saturday morning after investigations that lasted nearly 18 months, local media reported. Dung and other accused were arrested last April.

  Do Anh Dung, chairman and CEO of Tan Hoang Minh Group. Photo courtesy of Mekong ASEAN newspaper.

Do Anh Dung, chairman and CEO of Tan Hoang Minh Group. Photo courtesy of Mekong ASEAN newspaper.

The associates accused in the case include: Do Hoang Viet, son of Dung and deputy general director of Tan Hoang Minh; Nguyen Manh Hung, former chairman of Ngoi Sao Viet Real Estate Investment Company (Viet Star); Tran Hong Son, chairman of Soleil Hotel Services and Investment JSC; Nguyen Khoa Duc, chairman cum general director of Winter Palace JSC; and Le Van Thinh, deputy general director of Tan Hoang Minh.

According to the investigators, due to Covid-related troubles, Tan Hoang Minh had difficulty repaying loans of VND18.5 trillion (roughly $755 million).

Between July 2021 and March 2022, three of Tan Hoang Minh Group’s affiliates – Viet Star Real Estate Investment Ltd, Winter Palace JSC and Soleil Hotel Services and Investment JSC – mobilized VND10.03 trillion ($412.67 million) from nine bond issuances.

In April 2022, the stock market watchdog found that the three firms had “publicized untrue information, concealing information on separate bond issuances” and called off the nine bond batches.

After several manoeuvres and setting up of false contracts, Tan Hoang Minh became primary holder of those bonds and resold them to secondary buyers, raising nearly VND14 trillion ($576 million). All the proceeds were later found to be misused, including VND5.1 trillion that was used for rollovers, investigators said.

They concluded that the Tan Hoang Minh Group misappropriated VND8.6 trillion from over 6,600 secondary buyers. During the investigation process, this money was retrieved through repayments by Dung and accomplices and foreclosures.

After the arrest of Tan Hoang Minh Group executives, the bond buyers protested and asked government agencies for help in getting their money back.

The case has caused “extremely severe damage” and public anger, posed a threat to national financial stability, and negatively affected the local corporate bond market, the investigators said.

The Central Steering Committee on Anti-corruption, directly chaired by the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, placed the Tan Hoang Minh case under its watch in April 2022.

The case prompted the finance ministry to tighten regulations on separate corporate bond issuances which, in turn, caused a market slump.

Comments (0)
  • Read More
Vietnam's Big 4 lender Vietcombank to issue nearly 2.8 bln shares for dividend payment

Vietnam's Big 4 lender Vietcombank to issue nearly 2.8 bln shares for dividend payment

Vietcombank will expand its chartered capital from VND55,891 billion to VND83,557 billion ($3.29 billion) via an issuance of shares to pay dividends, becoming the largest bank in Vietnam by chartered capital.

Banking - Thu, January 16, 2025 | 7:58 pm GMT+7

Indonesia exports $1.5 million worth of steel to New Zealand

Indonesia exports $1.5 million worth of steel to New Zealand

Indonesian Trade Minister Budi Santoso on Wednesday sent off export consignments of welded beam steel, measuring 1,200 metric tons and valued at $1.5 million, to New Zealand, reported national news agency Antara.

Southeast Asia - Thu, January 16, 2025 | 7:17 pm GMT+7

Vietnam to build Ninh Thuan nuclear power plant within 5 years

Vietnam to build Ninh Thuan nuclear power plant within 5 years

Vietnam strives to complete building its Ninh Thuan nuclear power plant in five years (by 2030), towards the 100th anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (1930-2030).

Energy - Thu, January 16, 2025 | 5:06 pm GMT+7

Malaysia, UK discuss elevating relations to strategic partnership

Malaysia, UK discuss elevating relations to strategic partnership

Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his UK counterpart Keir Starmer discussed the elevation of bilateral relations to a strategic partnership during their talk in London on Wednesday.

Southeast Asia - Thu, January 16, 2025 | 3:30 pm GMT+7

Thailand’s Central Retail opens $11 mln GO! hypermarket in central Vietnam

Thailand’s Central Retail opens $11 mln GO! hypermarket in central Vietnam

Thailand’s leading retailer Central Retail opened a hypermarket per its GO! model in Vietnam’s south-central province of Ninh Thuan on Wednesday.

Industries - Thu, January 16, 2025 | 3:29 pm GMT+7

Investment Support Fund: A Strategic leap for Vietnam's economic future

Investment Support Fund: A Strategic leap for Vietnam's economic future

The Vietnamese Government's Decree No. 182/2024/ND-CP, which outlines the establishment, management and use of the Investment Support Fund, represents not just policy instruments for attracting investment but also foundations for advancing strategic sectors and elevating the country's position in the global economy, writes Tran Anh Son, tax & legal director, Global Innovation and Investment Incentives (Gi3), Deloitte Vietnam.

Economy - Thu, January 16, 2025 | 2:55 pm GMT+7

Vietnam PM orders appraisal of tax policies to curb property speculation

Vietnam PM orders appraisal of tax policies to curb property speculation

The Ministry of Finance needs to study tax policies to curb property speculation in line with Vietnam’s socio-economic conditions and international practices, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has requested.

Real Estate - Thu, January 16, 2025 | 2:40 pm GMT+7

Vietnam’s budget carrier VietJet can pilot China's Comac aircraft on some routes: Deputy PM

Vietnam’s budget carrier VietJet can pilot China's Comac aircraft on some routes: Deputy PM

China’s state-owned aerospace manufacturer Comac and Vietnam’s budget airline VietJet should collaborate with a Chinese airline having Comac aircraft to pilot Comac aircraft on some of VietJet routes, says Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha.

Companies - Thu, January 16, 2025 | 12:26 pm GMT+7

Offshore wind power investors can sell entire projects in Vietnam: draft decree

Offshore wind power investors can sell entire projects in Vietnam: draft decree

A draft decree on offshore wind power being compiled by Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade will facilitate investors to sell their projects or stakes.

Energy - Thu, January 16, 2025 | 11:27 am GMT+7

Build your own sales channels if e-commerce competition too harsh: NextTech exec 

Build your own sales channels if e-commerce competition too harsh: NextTech exec 

If e-commerce competition is too harsh, Vietnamese businesses should develop their own sales channels and customer databases, says Nguyen Hoa Binh, founder and chairman of NextTech Group, a leading technology startup in Vietnam.

Economy - Thu, January 16, 2025 | 9:05 am GMT+7

Indonesia moves to secure domestic pharmaceutical independence

Indonesia moves to secure domestic pharmaceutical independence

Indonesia's Health Ministry is working to achieve domestic pharmaceutical independence through research and development, production, and market guarantees.

Southeast Asia - Thu, January 16, 2025 | 8:09 am GMT+7

Malaysia cooperates with UAE in AI development, digital transformation

Malaysia cooperates with UAE in AI development, digital transformation

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has said that the country must embark on digital transformation within its economic and financial sectors, prioritizing areas such as blockchain and cryptocurrency to remain at the forefront of the digital age.

Southeast Asia - Wed, January 15, 2025 | 11:00 pm GMT+7

Thai billionaire seeks to increase stake in Vietnam dairy gaint Vinamilk

Thai billionaire seeks to increase stake in Vietnam dairy gaint Vinamilk

F&N Dairy Investments Pte. Ltd - an entity associated with Thai billionaire Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi - has registered to purchase nearly 20.9 million shares of Vietnamese dairy giant Vinamilk (HoSE: VNM).

Companies - Wed, January 15, 2025 | 10:54 pm GMT+7

Vietnam PM leaves for official visits to Poland, Czech, WEF meeting

Vietnam PM leaves for official visits to Poland, Czech, WEF meeting

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh departed Hanoi on Wednesday afternoon for official visits to Poland and the Czech Republic, attendance at the 55th World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos, and bilateral meetings in Switzerland.

Politics - Wed, January 15, 2025 | 10:31 pm GMT+7

Malaysia’s manufacturing sector sees positive signs in 2025

Malaysia’s manufacturing sector sees positive signs in 2025

Malaysia’s manufacturing sector is forecast to recover well in 2025 as global trade dynamics and geopolitical shifts influence market trends.

Southeast Asia - Wed, January 15, 2025 | 10:06 pm GMT+7

Thailand posts record investment last year

Thailand posts record investment last year

Thailand saw record investment figures for 2024, with applications exceeding THB1.13 trillion ($32.5 billion), the highest in the past decade, according to the country’s Board of Investment (BOI).

Southeast Asia - Wed, January 15, 2025 | 10:05 pm GMT+7