Former HCMC Party chief faces discipline for Van Thinh Phat-linked violations

The Party Committee of HCMC People's Committee violated the principle of democratic centralism and working regulations; they displayed a duty dereliction and lax leadership, according to a press release Wednesday afternoon by the Central Inspection Committee, the Party's top watchdog.

The HCMC People’s Committee and other organizations and individuals have violated regulations of the Party and the law in managing land and assets and in investing, planning and constructing projects developed by Van Thinh Phat and Advanced International Joint Stock Company (AIC), a company operating in various fields including healthcare, education and real estate.

These violations were concluded to have "negatively affected the reputation of the city's Party unit and administration, causing public distress." They have caused grave consequences and have high risk of causing losses to the State and other entities.

The Central Inspection Committee holds these organizations and people responsible for the violations: the Standing Committee of HCMC Party Committee for the term 2010-2015; Party Committee of the City People's Committee for the terms 2011-2016 and 2016-2021; and Hai, also former Politburo member, Secretary of the HCMC Party Committee, former Secretary of the Party Committee, and former Chairman of the HCMC People's Committee.

The list also includes Le Hoang Quan and Nguyen Thanh Phong, former members of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Secretaries of the HCMC Party Committee, Secretaries of the Party Committee, Chairmen of the City People's Committee and a number of other party organizations and party members.

The Central Inspection Committee gave a warning to the Party Committee of HCMC People's Committee for the terms 2011-2016 and 2016-2021; Party Committees of the Departments of Finance and of Planning and Investment for the 2015-2020 term; the Departments of Construction and of Natural Resources and Environment term 2010-2015.

Central Inspection Committee proposed discipline measures on the Party Committee Standing Committee of the HCMC Party Committee term 2010-2015 and on Hai, Quan and Phong.

Hai, 74, in March 2020 lost his position as the HCMC Party Secretary for the 2010-2015 term for his wrongful decisions at Thu Thiem New Urban Area project.

He was mainly responsible for violations committed by the city's Party unit in leading and directing implementation of the Thu Thiem New Urban Area project, inspectors said.

He signed documents that contravened the policy of the HCMC People’s Council and the Budget and Construction Laws.

The top leader of Van Thinh Phat, chairwoman Truong My Lan, has recently been sentenced to death for embezzling money from Saigon Commercial Bank over a decade. She has appealed her death sentence.