Former FLC chairman Trinh Van Quyet absent from appeal trial

Nguyen Trong Nghia informed the court that Quyet, 49, is in "critical condition, with his life at risk," citing a diagnosis of stage 3 heart failure and other medical complications.

Presiding judge Vo Hong Son confirmed that Quyet was hospitalized and deemed unfit to attend the proceedings.

In July last year, Quyet was sentenced to 21 years in prison for fraudulent appropriation of assets and stock manipulation. The court found him guilty of deceiving over 27,800 investors into purchasing shares of an FLC subsidiary through illegal means.

His sisters, Trinh Thi Minh Hue and Trinh Thi Thuy Nga, received 14 and eight years respectively for assisting him in the scheme. All three have appealed for reduced prison terms and lesser compensation obligations.

At the trial, Quyet’s legal team revealed that nearly VND1 trillion (US$39 million) of the VND2.4 trillion in compensation has already been paid. They added that the family intends to contribute an additional VND100–200 billion this week and aims to settle the full amount by May.

The lawyers also asked for the appeal trial to be postponed until Quyet and his family complete the remaining compensation payment, as it could impact the final sentencing decision.