Eximbank officer in Chu Thi Binh case released on bail

C44 arrived Eximbank branch in Ho Chi Minh City to arrest two defendants on March 26

The leader of Eximbank has just confirmed to the media that the Ministry of Public Security’s investigation agency (C44) has let Nguyen Thi Thi out on bail. She is one of the two Eximbank officers who were arrested in March and prosecuted for involvement in appropriating Chu Thi Binh’s VND245 billion ($10.8 billion).

According to Eximbank’s leader, a member of Thi’s family paid VND8 billion ($352,423) to release her on bail. This is the financial damage the defendant caused by “deliberately acting against state regulations on economic management, causing serious consequences.” The investigation agency also relied on factors like health, the criminal record as well as achievements of Thi and her family, and application for bail to decide on the bail amount.

The leaders of Eximbank has sent the application for bail of defendant Ho Ngoc Thuy and waited for the investigation agency to consider the bail soon.

Earlier on March 26, C44 implemented the decision of the prosecution and arrested Ho Ngoc Thuy and Nguyen Thi Thi, officers of Eximbank branch in Ho Chi Minh City for the charge of “deliberately acting against state regulations on economic management, causing serious consequences.”

The decision outlined that these officers were suspected of being involved in the case of Le Nguyen Hung (former deputy director of Eximbank branch), who appropriated property through swindling.

They are accused of being Hung’s partners in crime in appropriating VND245 billion ($10.8 million) from the savings books of Chu Thi Binh.

Eximbank’s leaders said that the bank sent a diplomatic note and a letter to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ask for assistance in arresting Hung.

Additionally, on June 26, Eximbank has issued compensation of VND93 billion ($4.1 million) out of the VND245 billion ($10.8 million) that Chu Thi Binh lost in early 2017. The VND152 billion ($6.7 million) will be paid after the conclusion of the investigation agency.