Vinalines ex-boss trial continues on dramatic day The appeal hearing for Duong Chi Dung, former Chairman of the Vietnam National Shipping Lines (Vinalines) and his alleged accomplices entered its fifth day on April 28.  The accused were questioned in detail about violations they allegedly committed.  Meanwhile, several additional witnesses, including a representative from the Vietnam Maritime Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Maritime Bank) and former Vinalines Deputy General Director Bui Van Trung, were subpoenaed to clarify some details that arose in the testimonies of the accused and in new documents presented by lawyers.  The defendants have pleaded guilty of some charges in the previous days. At the trial, the jury has reread the statements outlining their version of events to shed light on a contradiction between some evidence and the testimony of former Vinalines Ship Repair Company Director Tran Hai Son regarding the acquisition of US$1.666 million.  Documents have come to light verifying that Son withdrew the sum together with a written reply from Maritime Bank acknowledging his depositing and withdrawal using an ID card. The Maritime Bank representative was asked to clarify why the bank’s written reply does not align with the verification documents.  Prosecutors came up with new documents supplied by the Russian side, which were announced by the jury and then sent to the lawyers at their request.  The Hanoi People’s Court on December 16, 2013 sentenced Dung and former Vinalines General Director Mai Van Phuc to death for embezzlement. Their violations of State regulations on economic management were met with 18-year jail sentences.  Eight other defendants from Vinalines, the Vietnam Registry and Van Phong Customs Office in the central province of Khanh Hoa were sentenced to prison terms ranging from four to 22 years. Nine of the defendants have appealed the Hanoi court’s verdict.  According to the indictment issued at the court, during 2007-2008, Dung and his fellow defendants violated regulations on investment, bidding and customs procedures for import and export. The malpractice caused losses of US$17.2 million to the State budget.  VNA/VOV online