On 17/7, the Dong Nai Provincial People's Court opened the first-instance trial of the case "Violation of land management regulations" against Vo Van Chanh, 63.

A corner of Phuoc Thai Residential Area. Photo: Phuoc Tuan

A corner of Phuoc Thai Residential Area. Photo: Phuoc Tuan

According to the indictment, in 1995, the Prime Minister signed a decision allowing Kia - Hoang Hung Ceramics Co., Ltd. (a joint venture between Huy Hoang Garment Construction Joint Stock Company and Beneficial Asia Limited) to lease nearly 9 hectares of land in Tam Phuoc Commune, Long Thanh District (now Tam Phuoc Ward) to build a ceramics factory.

When the company failed to implement the project, the Dong Nai People's Committee revoked the investment license but did not reclaim the land (because the land had not been granted ownership) and allowed the company full use.

In 2015, Truong Quoc Tuan, as Director of Phuoc Thai Company, sent an official letter to the Dong Nai People's Committee, proposing to adjust the planning of this land from industrial to commercial residential. Tuan signed a contract with Huy Hoang Garment Construction Joint Stock Company, agreeing to compensate for the land and assets on the land with an amount of more than 35 billion VND to receive the transfer.

To legitimize this, Tuan asked the transferor, Huy Hoang Company, to send a written request to the Dong Nai People's Committee, requiring Huy Hoang to sign a land handover record to Nguyen Huu Thanh (brother of Nguyen Van Duc, then vice chairman of Tam Phuoc Commune People's Committee) as the owner of the land to receive compensation.

On 10/12/2015, following Phuoc Thai Company's request, Huy Hoang Company sent a document to the Dong Nai People's Committee, proposing to consider and approve Huy Hoang Company's handover of the nearly 9-hectare land plot to Nguyen Huu Thanh for management and enhanced land use.

Dinh Quoc Thai, Chairman of the Dong Nai People's Committee, assigned Chanh, then vice chairman, to review and handle the matter. Chanh then wrote: "Agree in principle, assign the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to propose procedures according to the decision."

On 26/6/2017, Chanh signed a decision to allocate and lease the nearly 9-hectare land plot to Phuoc Thai Company for the Phuoc Thai Commercial Residential Area project. To receive the state compensation, Tuan opened a bank account for Nguyen Huu Thanh, who received over 77 billion VND. This was then transferred to Phuoc Thai Company's account and into a savings book under Tuan's wife's name.

Following a complaint about the improper compensation, support, and resettlement for Nguyen Huu Thanh, Chanh directed the specialized agencies and Bien Hoa City People's Committee to cancel the compensation and support for Nguyen Huu Thanh and recover the entire improperly compensated amount.

On 20/11/2017, Chanh signed a decision on the implementation of the Phuoc Thai project and approved the compensation plan with a total value of over 45 billion VND. He then signed a document approving the land allocation and lease for Phuoc Thai Company to carry out the project.

The indictment stated that Chanh was in charge of natural resources and environment. Upon receiving the proposal from Huy Hoang Company forwarded by Dinh Quoc Thai, Chairman of the Dong Nai People's Committee, he did not request a review from advisory or specialized units. Consequently, he failed to detect that Huy Hoang Company's handover of 9 hectares of land to Nguyen Huu Thanh was illegal, causing nearly 79 billion VND in losses to the state.

During the investigation, Chanh was recorded as having confessed truthfully, shown remorse, and acted decisively to recover assets and remedy the consequences after the incident was discovered.

Mr. Chanh at the trial today. Photo: Thai Ha

Mr. Chanh at the trial today. Photo: Thai Ha

At the trial, Chanh agreed with the charges. When asked by the presiding judge about the land allocation process, Chanh admitted his wrongdoing. "At that time, I had too much work and was under pressure. I only thought about how to develop the local economy, so when subordinates made proposals, I lacked oversight and was subjective, leading to the violations as stated in the indictment," Chanh testified.

The former Dong Nai provincial leader further explained that, at the time, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment submitted a document requesting the opinion of the Chairman of the Dong Nai People's Committee. The chairman then signed his approval on the back, which led Chanh to write "agree in principle." Chanh affirmed that he was not influenced by anyone nor did he receive any material benefits when signing the decisions.

In his closing statement, Chanh acknowledged his wrongdoing during his tenure and expressed his deep remorse over the two-year-long case. "My violation has affected the state, my family, and my relatives, so I am very regretful. This is not only a lesson for me but also for future generations. I acknowledge my violations and mistakes, and I hope the Trial Panel will take that into account," Chanh said.

The Procuracy proposed that the Trial Panel sentence Chanh to 3-4 years in prison for "Violation of land management regulations." The verdict is expected on 24/7.

Related to this case, Tuan and 12 other defendants have been tried and sentenced to 4 to 9 years in prison for "Violation of regulations on compensation, support, and resettlement when the State recovers land."

Phuoc Tuan