Despite running PetroVietnam Construction Joint stock company (PVC) into gigantic losses, Trinh Xuan Thanh was still appointed to the key positions at the Ministry of Industry and Trade and then vice chair of Hau Giang People’s Committee.

The case has started making the headlines after Thanh was detected using a government blue plate for his luxury VND5.7 billion (USD255,189) Lexus LX570. The Party Chief Nguyen Phu Trong ordered inspectors to report at the earliest.

Thanh explained that he borrowed the car from a relative in Hanoi and brought it to Hau Giang for his personal use after becoming deputy chairman of the southern province for the 2011-16 term.

“At that time the province couldn’t afford a car for me,” Thanh said, claiming provincial leaders had allowed him to use the blue plate.

The story about his car has just seems to have been the straw that broke the camel's back, as far as public opinion has been concerned.

Before being assigned to his position in Hau Giang, Trinh Xuan Thanh was the chairman of PVC from 2007 to 2013. In 2012, the company reported surprise losses of VND293 billion (USD14 million). By the end of 2013, the company had a total loss of VND3.2 trillion.

After that Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung urged PetroVietnam to invest the causes of PVC and deal with the individuals involved and determine who was responsible. However, the file has yet to close on the investigation.

Between September 2013 and April 2015, Thanh was assigned to key positions at the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s office by former Minister Vu Huy Hoang. In May 2015, he became the vice chairman of Hau Giang Province People’s Committee.

Vice Chairman of Hau Giang Province People's Committee Trinh Xuan Thanh 

Former Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang has also been questioned for promoting his son Vu Quang Hai for being Deputy Director of Saigon Beer Alcohol-Beverage Joint Stock Corporation (SABECO) although under Hai’s management, Petrovietnam Finance Investment JSC (PVFI) racked up losses of VND220 billion (USD10 million) between 2011 and 2012.

Speaking with DtiNews, Lieutenant-general Nguyen Quoc Thuoc, a former National Assembly deputy, raised his doubts about Thanh’s appointment. “It is unreasonable that Mr. Thanh was assigned to take important positions at the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s office after being chairman of loss-making firm. Then after that, he became Hau Giang Province leader and then a National Assembly Deputy.”

Speaking to DTiNews reporter this morning, Thanh seemed confident, saying that he did not want to explain too much at this time, but still waiting for the official conclusion from management agencies about his case.

Regarding about his appointment, Thanh said that this was approved by management agencies.

Thanh also said that he had petitioned Hau Giang Province People’s Council, asking not to be nominated to stand as the provincial vice chairman in the 2015-2021.

The council on June 16 will hold a meeting to vote the council’s chairperson and vice chairperson as well as chairperson as well as four chair-people of the people’s committee.