On 17/4, the Da Nang Police Investigation Agency announced the temporary detention of Ho Van Dung, 54, residing in Ngu Hanh Son ward.
Previously, on 8/4, Dung's wife, Cao Thi Be, 54, was also indicted and temporarily detained for the same offense.
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Ho Van Dung upon arrest. Photo: Police provided
According to case files, in 2017, Mr. Dung and Ms. Be signed a commitment to sell a 100 square meter plot of land in the Ba Tung resettlement area, formerly Ngu Hanh Son district, for 750 million VND. After receiving a 400 million VND deposit, the couple failed to proceed with the transaction and did not refund the money.
The buyer subsequently sued. The Ngu Hanh Son District People's Court, in its former jurisdiction, ruled that the couple must return 800 million VND.
As the defendants did not comply with the judgment, in 9/2018, the Da Nang City Asset Auction Service Center organized an auction for the two-story house attached to land plot number 8 Le Dinh Chinh, Ngu Hanh Son ward. Nguyen The Hieu, 34, from the former Quang Nam province, was the legal auction winner, paying over 1.64 billion VND.
In 2019, the Dung family filed a complaint, but it was not accepted by authorities as the judgment had become legally effective. The Ngu Hanh Son District Civil Judgment Enforcement Department then enforced the handover of the property to Hieu.
The situation became complicated when Mr. Dung and Ms. Be refused to leave. After receiving treatment for burns sustained during the enforcement process, by late 10/2019, they illegally broke into the house when Hieu was away for a family anniversary and re-occupied house number 8 Le Dinh Chinh, residing there ever since.
Over 7 years, from 2019 to 2025, Hieu repeatedly submitted requests for a definitive resolution and applied for a land use rights certificate in his name, but faced many legal obstacles due to the former owners occupying the house.
On 2/6/2025, the Ngu Hanh Son District People's Committee, in its former jurisdiction, officially issued the land use rights certificate to Hieu.
In 2025, the Da Nang City Police Investigation Agency Office took on the case and repeatedly urged the Dung family to hand over the property, but they did not comply.
Assessing that the actions of Mr. Dung and Ms. Be constituted the crime of infringing on another's residence, as per Article 158 of the Penal Code, the police agency decided to prosecute and issue arrest warrants.
When the arrest warrant was executed on 8/4, Mr. Dung was hospitalized, so authorities only arrested Ms. Be. When Mr. Dung was discharged from the hospital on 15/4, the investigation agency carried out the procedural decision.
Currently, authorities have handed over the house to Hieu.
Ngoc Truong
