VietNamNet Bridge – Government inspectors yesterday announced inspection results over a mansion complex owned by Yen Bai Province’s environmental director, accusing him of “dishonesty” for failing to declare thousands of square metres of land in his asset declaration.

The 1.3ha mansion complex owned by Pham Sy Quy, director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, northern mountain Yen Bai Province. Investigation officials accused him of “dishonesty” for failing to declare thousands of square metres of land in his asset declaration. — VNA/VNS Photo The Duyet

The results were publicised at Yen Bai People’s Committee yesterday afternoon, four months after images of the luxurious mansion were published. The 1.3ha complex sparked an outcry, with the public demanding investigation into Pham Sy Quy, director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment. 

The inspection found that Quy’s wife, Hoang Thi Hue, in 2015 submitted five documents to Yen Bai City People’s Committee asking to change the use of more than 1.3 ha in Minh Tan Ward from agricultural purposes to residential.

She later submitted another document to change the use of more than 300 sq m from forestry land into residential in 2016, and received approval.

According to Decision 2821 of Yen Bai People’s Committee on land use planning in 2015, the total amount of farm land permitted to change into residential one in Minh Tan Ward was 1.42 ha. However, the land granted to Quy and Hue alone was more than 1.3 ha, accounting for more than 93 per cent of what was approved.

Unlicensed construction

The inspection found that the family’s main mansion at blocs 42 and 52 in Minh Tan Ward exceeded the total permitted in the construction licence by 345 sq m.

They also built four constructions without licences, including a wooden ancestral house, a stilt house, a bridge across a lake and a house used as a kitchen.

“Dishonest” asset declaration

Looking into his assets, the inspectors found that Quy didn’t declare thousands of square metres of land and assets in his compulsory annual declaration.

In 2014, Quy failed to report 60,797 sqm of land registered under his wife’s name and a bank loan of VND3.8 billion (US$168,800).

The next year Quy did not include 54,681 sqm, also under Hue’s name, in his asset declaration, or another bank loan of VND6 billion and VND1.9 billion from his parents.

After being appointed as director of the Yen Bai’s Department of Natural Resources and Environment last year, Quy failed to declare Hue’s 35,468 sq m of land, a 500 sq m mansion in bloc 51 in Minh Tan Ward or a bank loan of VND9 billion and some gold worth VND2.18 billion borrowed from friends.

Strict punishments

Government inspectors concluded that the Yen Bai City People’s Committee committed wrongdoings in allowing changes of land use purpose in the case.

Leaders of the People’s Committee and the city natural resources and environment division were all held responsible for the violations.

Quy himself declared his assets in a “dishonest manner”, leading to doubts over his family’s properties and causing negative publicity for Government officials, the inspectors said.

The inspectors asked Yen Bai authorities to strictly handle the violations, and report to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc by December 31. 

VNS