What does Vietnam say about ‘Ms. Ho Thi Kim Thoa was arrested in France’?

At the regular press conference in the afternoon of November 19, the spokesman for the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spoke ahead of the news that former Vice Minister of Industry and Commerce Ho Thi Kim Thoa was arrested in France.

Consequently, when asked to verify that the Western press said that Ms. Ho Thi Kim Thoa was arrested in France and possibly extradited to Vietnam, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated: “I have no information on the arrest of the Ms. Ho Thi Kim Thoa in France “.

Two days earlier, the head of the bureau, spokesman for the Ministry of Public Security, To An Xo, said that the ministry had not received any official information on the arrest of Ms. Ho Thi Kim Thoa and that she would soon be escorted back to Vietnam. . You have not confirmed whether the font is correct or incorrect.

As the BBC previously reported, the BBC’s own source said that Kim Thoa is living in Paris, the capital of France since being prosecuted by Vietnam for investigating the crime of “violating regulations on handling and use.” the use of state property causes loss and waste. ”

This is a violation related to a violation that occurred at Saigon Beer and Beverage Corporation (Sabeco), which resulted in a loss of 2.7 billion VND and Ms. Thoa has also been wanted since July.

Specifically, on July 10, the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security issued a decision to prosecute the defendant, arrest warrant for detention, ban on leaving residence, and search warrant for prior behavior against Ms. Thoa and the former Chief Ministry of Industry and Commerce Vu Huy Hoang.

However, the law enforcement agency temporarily suspended the case with Ms Thoa because it was determined that the defendant had fled and, when she was captured, the case will continue to be handled in accordance with the regulations.

According to the BBC’s own sources, it appears that at this time, Kim Thoa is traveling to France, including visiting the Plum Village meditation center, France.

After hearing the accusation, Ms. Thoa stayed in France on a tourist visa.

In mid-July this year, the Ministry of Public Security said that when the investigation determined that Mrs. Thoa had gone abroad, she had initiated mutual legal assistance procedures with Interpol to order an international order, the plan was to coordinate join your country’s police to arrest the accused.

There is an extradition agreement between Vietnam and France, so many opinions suggest that arresting Ms. Thoa will be easier than the Trinh Xuan Thanh case in Germany in 2017.

Public opinion about Ms. Thoa’s arrest is quite multi-dimensional. Some people believe that France or other countries are not a port to take refuge in Vietnam, so it is necessary to arrest Ms Thoa for the case. Others believe that the arrest of Ms. Thoa must comply with international law and should not be “kidnapped”, especially when there is an extradition agreement between France and Vietnam.

He was Vice Minister of Industry and Commerce of Vietnam from 2010 to 2017.

She used to be the President and CEO of Dien Quang Lamp Joint Stock Company and has been with this company for 18 years.

While serving as Vice Minister, Ms. Thoa remains a major shareholder of Dien Quang Lamp Joint Stock Company when she owns 1,161,446 shares of DQC, equivalent to 5.30% of the capital.

Consequently, in 2010, when Ms. Thoa was appointed Vice Minister in the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the President and CEO of Dien Quang Lamp were handed over to her brother, Mr. Ho Quynh Hung.

Ms. Ho Thi Kim Thoa is also the first President of the Vietnam Women Entrepreneurs Association. In 2016, she once reached the top of the richest women in Vietnam in 2016.

In 2017, Ms Thoa’s daughter Nguyen Thai Nga (born 1984), Russia was the only 8 times among the 15 richest women in Vietnam in 2017 with total assets of VND 394 billion. Ms. Nga currently holds the position of Deputy Managing Director of Dien Quang Lamp Joint Stock Company.