Vietnam Reopens 15-Year-Old Fraud Case at Cinema Center, Seeks Fugitive Accountant

Vietnamese authorities have revived a 15-year-old fraud investigation into an asset misappropriation case at the Center for "Saturday Cinema" under the Department of Cinema.

The investigation was reopened by the Ministry of Public Security's Criminal Police Department (C03). Police are urging suspect Phạm Thanh Hải, an accountant at the Department of Cinema, to surrender voluntarily to receive leniency. Hải was charged with fraud and asset misappropriation in June 2011 and subsequently fled, leading to a nationwide arrest warrant issued in March 2011. The investigation was temporarily suspended in May 2012 due to his absconding.

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Police are calling for suspect Phạm Thanh Hải to surrender to receive leniency.

According to the investigation, from 2008 to 2011, Hải allegedly forged signatures and created false documents to embezzle over 36 billion VND (approximately $1.5 million USD) from the Department of Cinema's public funds before fleeing. The case also implicates former officials, including Lê Ngọc Minh, former Deputy Director of the Department of Cinema and Director of the "Saturday Cinema" Center, who allegedly signed 45 false documents prepared by Hải without proper verification. Trần Thị Kim Phụng, a former accountant, is accused of failing to properly reconcile the department's figures with those of the State Treasury. Two accountants from the Ba Đình State Treasury branch are also implicated for allegedly lending documents to Hải.

The investigation was officially reopened on June 19. The C03 department emphasized that if Hải does not surrender, he will forfeit his right to self-defense and will be investigated and prosecuted accordingly. In 2012, the Supreme People's Procuracy had previously suspended proceedings against Minh, citing Hải's fugitive status as a reason for the delay in gathering evidence and questioning key witnesses.

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From 2008 - 2011, Mr. Hai forged signatures, created false documents to "withdraw" over 36 billion VND of the Department of Cinema's public funds and fled.