Trial of the case related to the Dien Bien Airport Upgrade and Renovation Project

On August 2, the People's Court of Dien Bien province opened the first-instance trial of Nguyen Tuan Anh (born in 1977, former Vice Chairman of Dien Bien Phu City People's Committee) and 8 defendants for the crime of "Violating regulations on compensation, support, and resettlement when the State acquires land" and the crime of "Abusing position and power in performing official duties" related to the Dien Bien Airport Upgrade and Renovation Project. This is a case that has received special attention from the public and is one of the cases being monitored by the Provincial Steering Committee for Anti-Corruption and Negativity.

The defendants at trial

In addition to Nguyen Tuan Anh, eight defendants were brought to trial in the case, including three defendants who are leaders and employees of the Land Management Center of Dien Bien Phu City: Tran Thi Van (born in 1978, Director), Nguyen Thi Khuong (born in 1965, contract employee); Tran Thi Hoa (born in 1985, civil servant); two defendants who are officials and civil servants of the Finance and Planning Department of Dien Bien Phu City: Pham Trung Kien (born in 1984, Deputy Head of Department), Tran Xuan Manh (born in 1984, civil servant); three defendants who are leaders and civil servants of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Dien Bien Phu City: Nguyen Dinh Hiep (born in 1976, Deputy Head of Department), Bui Thi Anh (born in 1967, civil servant) and Bui Manh Cuong (born in 1990, civil servant).

The Provincial People's Court summoned 65 people with rights and obligations related to the case and 40 people to protect the legal rights and interests of people with rights and obligations related to the case. The trial had 10 lawyers participating in the defense; including two lawyers defending the defendant Nguyen Tuan Anh.

According to the indictment of the People's Procuracy of Dien Bien province, from April to December 2021, when participating in the project to upgrade and renovate Dien Bien Airport, the defendants: Nguyen Thi Khuong, Tran Thi Van and Nguyen Tuan Anh committed the act of "Violating regulations on compensation, support and resettlement when the State acquires land", causing damage to the State of more than 13 billion VND. The defendants: Pham Trung Kien, Tran Xuan Manh, Nguyen Dinh Hiep, Bui Thi Anh committed the act of "Violating regulations on compensation, support and resettlement when the State acquires land", causing damage to the State of nearly 7 billion VND. The defendants: Nguyen Thi Khuong, Tran Thi Van, Tran Thi Hoa committed the act of "Abusing positions and powers while performing official duties", causing damage to the State of 267 million VND.

On October 11, 2021, while participating in the project to upgrade and renovate Dien Bien Airport, defendant Bui Manh Cuong committed the act of "Violating regulations on compensation, support, and resettlement when the State acquires land", causing damage to the State in the amount of more than 6.1 billion VND.

The Provincial People's Procuracy determined that this was a case of complicity, for the act of "Violating regulations on compensation, support, and resettlement when the State acquires land", the defendants did not discuss and agree when committing the crime; the defendants: Nguyen Thi Khuong, Tran Thi Van, Pham Trung Kien, Tran Xuan Manh, Nguyen Dinh Hiep, Bui Thi Anh, Bui Manh Cuong, Nguyen Tuan Anh were all the ones who directly committed the crime. For the act of "Abusing position and power while performing official duties", the defendant Tran Thi Van was the initiator; the defendants Nguyen Thi Khuong and Tran Thi Hoa were the ones who directly committed the crime. The defendants' actions were dangerous to society, very serious, causing damage to State property.

The first instance trial is scheduled to take place over three days (from August 2 to 4).

According to VNA