The police of Hanoi have arrested Hoang Thi Thu Ha, manager of the Northern Branch of Saigon Jewelry Holding Co. (SJC). She has been accused of abusing power.
Initial investigations by the police on December 28, 2007 revealed that Ha, 39, asked Le Thi Thu Ha, treasurer cum store keeper, to transfer VND7 billion ($363,583) from the cash fund into her personal bank account at a Joint Stock Commercial Bank in Hanoi. The money was transferred without any receipt and registration in the cash fund’s record which goes against regulations.
On December 31, 2007 as requested by Ha, the treasurer withdrew VND6 billion ($311,643) from Ha’s personal bank account to return to the company. Ha used the VND1 billion ($51,940) left to buy a house at Phuong Liet Ward, Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi.
However, SJC’s Northern Branch reported on October 12, 2009 that Ha paid them back only VND538 million ($27,944).
In addition, the police are investigating a the possibility that in January 2008, Ung Hong living at District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, an acquaintance of Truong Cong An, a sales official of the company transferred VND400 million ($20,776) into Ha’s personal bank account and asked Ha to help him give the money to a person living at Truong Chinh in Hanoi. However, she didn’t use the money transferred into her bank account to give to that person, she used money from SJC.
Furthermore, there’s another investigation about the loss of VND16 billion ($831,048). The value was in gold bars and gold material from early 2007 to late 2008.
Colonel Nguyen Van Nong, Manager of the Department for criminal investigation of order, economic management & position (PC15) under the Hanoi police department, said that Ha is under home detention because she is raising a baby under 36 months.
SJC is a state owned company under control of the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City. Its Hanoi branch was established in June 2006 and is located at 5 Xuan Dieu Road, Tay Ho District, Hanoi. Hoang Thi Thu Ha was appointed as a branch manager in December, 2007.
