On 12/3, the trial concerning a series of violations at driver training centers affiliated with Central III College of Transport concluded its questioning phase. During the previous session, the court and lawyers focused on questioning the defendants, who were leaders of the college, regarding the unauthorized permission granted to a center for driver training.

According to the indictment, Central III College of Transport was licensed by various departments to provide automobile driver training. However, the Center for Application of Science and Technology and Consulting for Construction Quality Inspection, a unit under the college, had not received such a license.

Despite this, Vu Duc Thieu, the chairman of the school council, signed a decision allowing this center to organize automobile driver training. Based on this, Hoang Van Tan, then vice rector (acting rector), signed a power of attorney authorizing Dau Xuan Van, the center's director, to sign vocational driving certificates and related documents.

Investigative agencies determined that the issuance of these documents was inconsistent with the center's established functions and operating charter, thereby facilitating Van's illicit activities.

Vu Duc Thieu (second from left) and other defendants in court. Photo: Hai Duyen

Initially, defendant Vu Duc Thieu asserted to the court that signing the authorization decision was appropriate because he had added driver training functions to the center's charter during its establishment.

When the presiding judge questioned whether "the college was permitted to add operational functions to the center," Thieu did not answer directly, stating instead that "the center was established by the college, and driver training licenses had been issued by the Department of Transport and the Department of Labor."

Further addressing the court about the basis for his authorization decision, Thieu explained that among the college's five affiliated facilities, four centers already held driver training licenses, with only the Center for Application being unlicensed.

However, when asked why he did not pursue formal licensing procedures for this center but instead arbitrarily authorized it to conduct driver training, the former chairman of the school council stated that "the center lacked sufficient facilities." He added that for the center to obtain its own license, the college would need to transfer physical assets to it.

Following the court's questioning, the prosecution asked Thieu if he claimed innocence. At this point, Thieu admitted that after the questioning and analysis by the presiding judge, he realized his understanding was flawed and accepted the indictment as accurate.

The prosecution further clarified that, according to proper regulations, the Center for Application should have applied for and received licensing for driver training from the Ministry of Transport and the Department of Labor. The defendant, despite knowing the center did not meet the conditions for licensing, proceeded to authorize it.

Additionally, in their managerial roles at the college, Thieu and Tan failed to adequately inspect and supervise the execution of duties. This oversight resulted in numerous violations across all five affiliated centers regarding the issuance of training certificates that did not comply with regulations.

Thieu's and Tan's actions are accused of constituting "abuse of power and authority while performing official duties," as defined by Article 356, clause 3 of the Penal Code.

The defendants in court today. Photo: Hai Duyen

Earlier, defendant Dau Xuan Van, director of the Center for Application of Science and Technology and Consulting for Construction Quality Inspection, also admitted to the violations outlined in the indictment. Specifically, Van instructed subordinates to falsify records and ledgers to legitimize the absence of full theoretical instruction and practical training. Consequently, the center issued illegal vocational driving certificates to 3,067 students, causing damages exceeding 10,4 billion VND.

Furthermore, Van directed the falsification of payment documents by purchasing 914 fake gasoline value-added invoices from Thanh Binh Company and Tan Thinh Vuong Private Enterprise, illicitly gaining over 10,47 billion VND. For these actions, Van is prosecuted for the crimes of "forgery in work," "abuse of power and authority while performing official duties," and "illegal trading of invoices and documents for state budget collection."

Authorities accuse the four other centers—including: Thuan An Motorized Transport Practice Skills Center; Motorized Transport Practice Skills Center; Driver Training and Testing Center; and Driver Training Center—of using similar methods to illegally issue over 12,800 certificates to students.

According to the schedule, the prosecution was expected to present its arguments this morning. However, after revisiting the questioning phase to verify disciplinary actions by the Party against two defendants, the court was unable to collect and confirm this information during the session. Therefore, the trial has been adjourned until 18/3.

Hai Duyen