Vietnam regrets the statement by the German Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson on August 2^nd pertaining to Trinh Xuan Thanh, spokeswoman of the Foreign Ministry Le Thi Thu Hang told reporters during a regular press conference in Hanoi on August 3^rd.

Spokeswoman of the Foreign Ministry Le Thi Thu Hang. (Source: VNA)

According to the Ministry of Public Security and the media, Trinh Xuan Thanh turned himself in to police in Vietnam on July 31^st and relevant authorities of Vietnam are investigating the case, the spokeswoman said.

“Vietnam always treasures, and wants to maintain and develop strategic partnership with Germany,” Hang said.

Trinh Xuan Thanh, former Chairman of the PetroVietnam Construction Corporation (PVC) had fled Vietnam after he was found to have violated State regulations on economic management resulting in losses of nearly VND 3.3 trillion (USD 142 million) for the PVC during his leadership.

On September 16^th, 2016, the Ministry of Public Security’s Investigation Police Agency launched criminal proceedings against Thanh.

After finding that Thanh had fled abroad, the ministry decided to issue an arrest warrant domestically and abroad for his arrest.

Earlier, members of the Secretariat of the Party Central Committee agreed to expel Thanh from the Party with 100 per cent of approval votes.

According to the Secretariat, between 2007-2013, during his position as Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Director General of the PVC, and later as Secretary of the PVC’s Party Committee and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Thanh showed irresponsibility and negligence in his leadership and management of the corporation’s operation, and also violated legal regulations in regards to business administration, these malpractices resulted in losses of nearly VND 3.3 trillion.

As the top official of the corporation, Thanh must bear the all responsibility for his mistakes and abuses.

As Thanh was responsible for these transgressions and violations of the law which resulted in losses at the PVC, leaders of the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group determined that he had not fulfilled his duty and removed him from the position of Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the PVC./.

VNF/VNA