Nineteen officials of the state-owned Vietnam National Coal-Mineral Industries Group (Vinacomin) are standing trial for the fraudulent in export of low-quality coal for private profit.

Offenders standing trial at court

The People’s Court in the northern province of Quang Ninh is presiding over the court on coal export fraud in the locality.

The case involves 19 people who are former officials of Vinacomin subsidiaries, including the Vinacomin Quacontrol Joint Stock Company Company, Hon Gai Forwarding Company, Nui Beo Coal Company, Tan Thanh One-liability Limited Company and Tung Bach Joint Stock Company. Two additional accomplices also stand trial who had not worked for Vinacomin.

According to the indictment, the offenders colluded with individuals outside their companies to commit fraud during the forwarding and supervision of the exportation of low-quality coal from Quyet Thang Port in Ha Long City to China through Van Gia Border Gate. They fraudulently altered the manifest of coal shipments in four ships and appropriated over VND894 million (USD42,914) in profits.

The offenders were arrested on May 14, 2010 in Nam Cau Trang Port after they had finished loading coal at Quyet Thang Port and were beginning to transfer the fuel through the Van Gia Border Gate to China.

According to quality control results, the four intercepted ships were carrying low quality coal that was differed from their manifests.

The court will reach a verdict on the case on August 26.