On 18/3, the Ministry of Public Security announced that the Economic Security Department had implemented a decision to launch a criminal case for fraudulent appropriation of property, as outlined in Article 174 of the Penal Code. The police have not yet disclosed specific details about the violations or the number of defendants.

Initial investigations determined that suspects had appropriated more than 40 billion VND. On 18/3, the Economic Security Department transferred the case to the Hanoi Police Security Investigation Agency for further investigation within its jurisdiction.

According to the police, the investigation aims to implement Directive No. 34 of 2025 by the Prime Minister. This directive focuses on rectifying and enhancing transparency, as well as preventing corruption in the approval, sale, and lease of social housing.

The Ministry of Public Security emphasized that exploiting social housing policies for personal gain and engaging in corrupt practices are causing public outrage. Such actions negatively impact the social welfare policies of the Party and the State. Police are expanding the investigation to thoroughly address all suspects and recover the appropriated assets.

Trung Van social housing project, Hanoi. Photo: Pham Chieu

The 2023 Housing Law defines social housing as housing supported by the State for eligible individuals, aiming to provide affordable homes for priority cases. Key characteristics of social housing include: lower prices compared to commercial housing in the same segment and area; strict requirements that units must be sold only to eligible beneficiaries; and a five-year waiting period before units can be transferred after handover.

Individuals eligible to purchase social housing include: people with revolutionary contributions, relatives of martyrs; poor and near-poor households in rural areas; rural households affected by natural disasters; and low-income, poor, and near-poor households in urban areas.

A report from the Ministry of Construction indicates that 737 social housing projects are currently underway nationwide, comprising over 701,000 units. This represents approximately 70% of the target to develop one million units. In February alone, local authorities commenced an additional 28 projects, totaling about 20,000 apartments.