Hanoi, March 30 -- The Hanoi People's Court on March 30 kicked off the first-instance trial of former Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Hoang Van Thang and 22 others charged with bribery and violation of bidding and accounting rules that led to serious consequences to the State budget.

Of the 23 defendants, 13 are former officials from the ministry, including Thang (born in 1959). Others include leaders and staff from the Song Da 5 Company, the Irrigation Corporation No. 4, the Hoang Dan Company, and the Sao Vang HG Company.

Among them, three are released on bail while 19 held in custody. Notably, Nguyen Hai Thanh (born in 1964, former deputy director of the ministry's department for construction management and direct...