Judge Tran Nam Ha will preside over the case. Prosecutors from the Hanoi People’s Procuracy involved in the trial include Tran Thi Thanh Huyen, Ngo Thi Huyen Phuong, Dao Thuy Chinh, Bui Thi Van, and Nguyen Duc Anh.

Earlier, the Supreme People’s Procuracy prosecuted 27 defendants in connection with the case involving Thai Duong Group JSC and affiliated entities.

The case has been classified as particularly serious due to its implications for rare earth mining, trade, export, and state resource management.

In this case, former Deputy Minister Nguyen Linh Ngoc faces charges of “violating regulations on the management and use of state property, causing loss and waste” under Clause 3, Article 219 of Vietnam’s Penal Code.

Prosecutors allege that Nguyen Linh Ngoc, along with co-defendants Nguyen Van Thuan (former Director General of the General Department of Geology and Minerals), Hoang Van Khoa (former Department Head), and Le Duy Phuong (former minerals specialist), were responsible for evaluating and issuing licenses for rare earth mining.

While carrying out their duties, the defendants are accused of willfully violating licensing protocols and criteria by granting rare earth mining rights to Thai Duong Group, causing losses to the state’s mineral resources estimated at over VND 736 billion (approximately USD 28.8 million).

The indictment states that Nguyen Linh Ngoc, as the deputy minister in charge of mining licenses, was fully aware that Thai Duong Group - led by Chairman and CEO Doan Van Huan - did not meet the legal requirements. Despite this, he still signed off on the mining license, granting Thai Duong access to exploit the rare earth resources.

The Supreme People’s Procuracy found that Doan Van Huan directed and organized the illegal mining of rare earth and iron ores at the Yen Phu mine between 2019 and 2023.

The total value of illegally extracted minerals exceeded VND 864 billion (approximately USD 33.8 million), of which VND 736 billion worth of ore was sold.

Additionally, former Yen Bai provincial officials - Ho Duc Hop (former Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment), Le Cong Tien (former Deputy Director), and Bui Doan Nhu (former Head of the Minerals Department) - are accused of failing to report or prevent Thai Duong’s illegal operations at the Yen Phu mine, despite being aware of the violations. Their inaction allegedly led to significant losses for the state.

T. Nhung