Former SJC Leader Recommended for 3-Year Sentence Reduction, Ordered to Forfeit Nearly 11,000 Taels of Gold

Prosecutors at the Ho Chi Minh City appellate court have recommended a reduced sentence for Le Thuy Hang, the former General Director of Saigon Jewelry Company Limited (SJC), who is accused of embezzlement. The prosecution proposed a 15-year prison term for embezzlement and a 7-year term for abuse of power, totaling 22 years, a reduction of three years from her initial sentence.

Hang, along with 15 co-defendants, is alleged to have caused SJC losses exceeding 107 billion VND (approximately $4.2 million USD). Court documents indicate Hang personally profited by over 82.2 billion VND, representing 75% of the illicit gains. She is accused of masterminding the scheme, directing operations, and receiving the largest share of the embezzled funds.

During the appellate trial, Hang presented new evidence to seek a lighter sentence. This included documentation of her family's revolutionary contributions, her active participation in charitable work, and an additional payment of 10 billion VND to compensate for the damages. The prosecution acknowledged these as mitigating factors, supporting a partial acceptance of her appeal.

The court also ordered Hang to forfeit nearly 11,000 taels of illegally produced gold, including SJC gold bars and rings, to the state treasury. Other defendants were also ordered to surrender seized gold. The prosecution maintained the original court's decision regarding the handling of seized assets, rejecting the defendants' appeals on this matter.