VietNamNet Bridge – The Hai Phong City People’s Court on April 8 commenced the trial of those involved in coercive land reclamation in Vinh Quang Commune, Tien Lang District in 2012. The defendants are charged with “destroying property, irresponsibility and causing serious consequences”.

Defendant Le Van Hien up on trial. (Source: VNA) 

The accused include former Deputy Chairman of the Tien Lang District People’s Committee Nguyen Van Khanh, former head of the district Natural Resources and Environment Office Pham Xuan Hoa, and former Chairman of the Vinh Quang Commune People’s Committee. They are accused of destroying property as stipulated in Point A, Clause 3, Article 143 of the Penal Code.

Former Secretary of the Party Committee cum Chairman of the People’s Committee of Vinh Quang commune Pham Dang Hoan faced the same charge under Point G, Clause 2, Article 143 of the Penal Code.

Former Chairman of the Tien Lang district People’s Committee Le Van Hien was convicted of showing irresponsibility and causing serious consequences set under Clause 1, Article 285 of the Penal Code.

The victims are Doan Van Vuon (50), his wife Nguyen Thi Thuong (53), and Pham Thi Bau (31) from Thuy Neo Village, Bac Hung Commune, Tien Lang District.

Five lawyers defended the accused.

According to the verdict, No. 12/CT – P1, presented by the Hai Phong City People’s Procuracy on January 7, the Tien Lang district People’s Committee on November 24, 2011, issued Decision No. 3307/QD-UBND to force Vuon to return the 19.3 hectares of aquatic farmland as the lease had expired.

That same day, the district People’s Committee issued plan No. 104/KH-UBND on holding coercive activities to take back the land.

Hien assigned Nguyen Van Khanh, Pham Xuan Hoa and Le Thanh Liem among others to execute the plan.

However, Khanh edited and signed notice No. 225 dated December 28, 2011, on deploying working groups to pull down the houses in the eviction area.

On January 5, 2012, Khanh ordered Hoa, Liem, Hoan and others to dismantle Vuon and Quy’s houses. This lasted for two days and resulted in a property loss of over 295 million VND (14,000 USD).

The trial, which saw the presence of local and foreign correspondents, is expected to run until April 10.

Source: Vietnam Plus