The municipal court began the trial on April 16 to hear alleged charges of fraud, but then decided to postpone it as one of the defendants, former ACB Chairman Tran Xuan Gia, was absent due to poor health.

Deputy Chief Judge of the municipal court Nguyen Huu Chinh is presiding over the hearing while the representative from the municipal People's Procuracy claims the right to prosecute in court.

As many as 20 defence lawyers are participating in the defence, with four of them representing Kien. Witnesses and other relevant people have been summoned to court, while defendant Gia remains absent due to poor health conditions that has been certified by the judges.

Under the indictment of the Supreme People's Procuracy, Kien has been charged with four counts: unauthorised trading, intentionally violating the State’s regulation on economic management causing serious consequences, fraudulent appropriation of property and tax evasion.

Former Director Tran Ngoc Thanh and former Chief Accountant Nguyen Thi Hai Yen of the Hanoi ACB Investment Company were indicted on the charge of fraudulent appropriation of property.

Former ACB chairman Tran Xuan Gia; former vice chairmen Le Vu Ky, Trinh Kim Quang and Pham Trung Cang; former ACB Chief Executive Officer Ly Xuan Hai; and former board of directors member Huynh Quang Tuan were all prosecuted on the charge of intentionally violating the State’s regulation on economic management causing serious consequences.

In the morning session, the jury carried out the verification of defendants’ identities. The trial is scheduled to take place in 15 days.