Former Chairman of Binh Thuan Province Le Tien Phuong Arrested

On April 26, a source from the Ministry of Public Security said that the Ministry of Public Security's Investigation Police Agency (C01) had issued a decision to prosecute and execute an order to temporarily detain Mr. Le Tien Phuong, former Chairman of the People's Committee of Binh Thuan province.

Mr. Phuong was prosecuted for violating regulations on management and use of state assets, causing loss and waste.

12 defendants prosecuted

At the same time, the investigation agency also prosecuted, temporarily detained and searched the residence of Mr. Xa Duong Thang, former Director of the Department of Construction, former Secretary of the Bac Binh District Party Committee, Binh Thuan province.

In addition, the investigation agency also prosecuted the following defendants: Do Ngoc Diep, former Chairman of Phan Thiet City People's Committee.

Ho Nhu Hai, former Deputy Director of Southern Information and Valuation Joint Stock Company - Binh Thuan Branch, price appraiser and Le Anh Huy, former Head of General Administration Department of Binh Thuan Provincial Land Management Department.

Former Vice Chairman of Binh Thuan province was also prosecuted in the second case.

According to the Ministry of Public Security, in the same case of the Phan Thiet coastal urban tourism area, the investigation agency decided to prosecute and temporarily detain Mr. Nguyen Van Phong, former Deputy Director of the Department of Finance, former Standing Member of the Land Valuation Council, and former Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Binh Thuan province.

Previously, Mr. Phong was prosecuted, brought to trial and is serving a prison sentence in the case of "Violating regulations on management and use of state assets causing loss, waste and lack of responsibility leading to serious consequences", which occurred at the Tan Viet Phat 2 commercial, service and residential area project in Binh Thuan province.

Two former leaders of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment were prosecuted and detained: Ho Lam, former Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Binh Thuan province and Le Nguyen Thanh Danh, former Deputy Director of the Department.

Three former leaders and officials of the Binh Thuan Provincial Land Management Department were also prosecuted and detained, including: Nguyen Thanh Cho, former Head of the Department; Le Nam Hung, former Deputy Head of the Department; and Pham Duy Cuong, former Deputy Head of the Land Economics Department, Binh Thuan Provincial Land Management Department.

Like Mr. Phong, all five of the above people are also serving prison sentences in the case of "Violating regulations on management and use of state assets causing loss, waste and lack of responsibility leading to serious consequences", which occurred at the Tan Viet Phat 2 commercial, service and residential area project in Binh Thuan province.

The investigation agency also prosecuted and banned Nguyen Xuan Phong, former Deputy Director of the Tax Department of Binh Thuan province, from leaving his place of residence.

All of the above people are being investigated for the crime of "Violating regulations on management and use of state assets, causing loss and waste".

On April 25 and 26, the investigation agency searched the residences of 6 suspects, including: Le Tien Phuong, Xa Duong Thang, Do Ngoc Diep, Ho Nhu Hai, Le Anh Huy and Nguyen Xuan Phong.

Search of Mr. Le Tien Phuong's private home

Mr. Le Tien Phuong (65 years old), former Chairman of Binh Thuan Provincial People's Committee for the 2011-2016 term. In December 2015, the 9th term of Binh Thuan Provincial People's Council dismissed Mr. Phuong from the position of Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee because he submitted a resignation letter to retire early.

At 1:00 p.m. on April 26, a working group of the Ministry of Public Security coordinated with the People's Procuracy to enter the private home of the former Chairman of the People's Committee of Binh Thuan province on Nguyen Tuong Street, Phu Thuy Ward, Phan Thiet City.

Violations related to Phan Thiet coastal urban tourism project

Chairman of Binh Thuan Province Le Tien Phuong is the one who signed many important decisions related to the Phan Thiet coastal urban tourism project, such as: Reporting a number of issues to the Ministry of Planning and Investment related to the conversion of the golf course's purpose to urban construction; decision on the conversion of land use purpose at the golf course to urban construction; decision to approve specific land prices to calculate land use fees with an area of ​​nearly 36.4 hectares allowed to convert the purpose in the project...

Mr. Xa Duong Thang was involved in this project when he was the Director of the Provincial Department of Construction.

The Department of Construction is the unit that appraises the detailed construction planning 1/500 of the project, in which the "swapping" of 20% of the social land fund in the project to another place emerged.

Mr. Ho Lam (who was prosecuted and temporarily detained in connection with the Tan Viet Phat 2 project) is currently the director of the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment.

The Department is a unit with many important advisors, submitting to the Provincial People's Committee for approval many decisions on projects such as: Converting the purpose of use from golf course land to urban construction land, circulating documents to determine financial obligations, granting land use right certificates at the project...

According to research, this project is required to allocate 20% of the land fund to build social housing. However, the People's Committee of Binh Thuan province has approved the detailed construction plan of 1/500 without allocating land fund to build social housing within the project.

Instead, the Provincial People's Committee swapped two other plots of land outside the project, allowing the investor to pay the budget an equivalent amount.

Before the exchange, Binh Thuan Provincial People's Committee asked for the opinion of the Ministry of Construction (Document No. 985 dated April 2, 2015).

The Ministry issued Document No. 906 dated April 24, 2015 to guide localities. The document stated: "The Provincial People's Committee can base on the needs, approved annual, medium-term and long-term social housing development plans, to study and adjust the land fund planning for social housing construction to another suitable location in Phan Thiet city with an area equivalent to 20% of the land fund in the Phan Thiet city coastal tourism urban area project".

From this guideline, the locality has converted 20% of the land fund for social housing construction to another location. And this land fund also becomes urban land after completing the conversion procedures, the investor completes financial obligations.

This exchange was once pointed out by the State Audit and Government Inspectorate for errors, but only individuals and organizations were asked to learn from experience...