A first-instance trial will start on May 12 on former Deputy Health Minister Truong Quoc Cuong and 13 other defendants involved in the case relating to the trading of counterfeit medicines, lack of responsibilities causing serious consequences; and the abuse of positions and power while on duty.

A prison term of 10-11 years has been proposed for Tran Trong Mung, former General Director of the Thai Nguyen Iron and Steel JSC (TISCO), with the main role in wrongdoings at the company, during the ongoing first-instance trial held by the Hanoi People’s Court.

The High-level People's Court in Hanoi upheld the penalties handed down at the first instance trial to six defendants with appeals in the case of “murder” and “resisting on-duty officers” that happened in Hoanh village of Dong Tam commune in Hanoi’s My Duc district during an appeal trial on March 9.

Ex-Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang and nine accomplices were brought to trial on January 7 for violations at the ministry and in Ho Chi Minh City that caused losses of some US$118 million.

The first-instance trial of the case on the theft of confidential State documents involving former Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung will open on December 11 behind closed doors, the Hanoi People’s Court has announced.