On 5/9, the Dong Nai People's Procuracy indicted 24 individuals for violations related to compensation and resettlement during the state's land acquisition for the Long Thanh International Airport project. The charges include violations of compensation regulations, bribery, and offering bribes.

Among the 21 individuals accused of violating compensation regulations is Le Van Tiep, former chairman of the Long Thanh District People's Committee and chairman of the airport project's compensation council.

Vu Duc Cong, a former land officer in Binh Son commune, and Nguyen Thanh Van, a member of the compensation council, were prosecuted for receiving bribes. Nguyen Hai Lang was prosecuted for offering bribes.

Long Thanh Airport resettlement area. Photo: Phuoc Tuan

The indictment alleges that several families in Binh Son commune received compensation despite lacking proper land management records, failing to consult with cohabitants, and not meeting eligibility requirements. Local officials falsely confirmed the presence of houses and structures on their land, enabling them to qualify for compensation.

Based on these 13 falsified records, the Long Thanh District Compensation Council and People's Committee approved the compensation, resulting in a loss of 23.7 billion VND of state funds.

The defendants are also accused of causing an additional loss of over 15 billion VND in job support and placement payments for three households.

Although Tiep, as chairman of the compensation council, identified irregularities in some applications and ordered an inspection, he ultimately approved the compensation based on confirmations from other agencies. The procuracy contends that this led to improper payments and substantial financial losses.

Regarding the bribery charges, the investigation revealed that Tran Van Tuat, a resident of the former Binh Son commune, authorized Nguyen Hai Lang to manage and handle compensation for land acquired for the airport project.

In mid-June 2020, Cong informed Lang that any construction after 2015 would not be eligible for compensation. Lang then contacted Van, head of Suoi Trau 3 hamlet, to backdate the construction timeline for compensation eligibility. To legitimize the claim, Lang bribed Cong and Van with 50 million VND each to falsify the records. Based on these fabricated documents, the former Long Thanh District Compensation Council approved the compensation, causing a loss of nearly 2.4 billion VND.

Phuoc Tuan