Tran Van Minh (left) and Van Huu Chien (Source: tuoitre.vn)

Prominent among the accused are two former Chairmen of central Da Nang city Tran Van Minh and Van Huu Chien, who were facing charges of “violating regulations on State asset management and use, causing losses and wastefulness” in accordance with Article 219 of the 2015 Penal Code, and “violating State regulations on land management” in line with Article 229 of the Penal Code.

Two former chairmen of Da Nang were accused of having enabled the now-jailed property manager Phan Van Anh Vu, alias Vu Nhom, 44, to purchase many public plots of land at low prices, resulting in losses of nearly VND20 trillion (US$861 million) for the State.

Investigations reveal that they had a role to play in 21 public properties purchased by Vu, former Chairman of the Bac Nam 79 Construction JSC, and his accomplices with low prices, along with seven real estate projects valued at tens of trillions of VND.

Between 2002 and 2017, Vu used his own name and those of his relatives to establish, contribute capital to and directly manage five real estate companies, aiming to purchase many property projects as well as public houses and land lots in Da Nang without auctions, at prices cheaper than those set by the municipal People’s Committee, personally pocketing a specially huge amount of money.

As Chairmen of the municipal People’s Committee, Minh and Chien were assigned to manage and use State assets, and manage land in the city. However, they violated regulations on State asset management and use, and land management.

They signed into issuance many documents, and instructed their subordinates in land hand-over, reclamation and lease, the transfer of land-use rights and conversion of land-use purposes. They also illegally transferred public houses and land in Da Nang to Vu.

Minh, 64, who served as chairman of the Danang People’s Committee between 2006 and 2014, was identified as the mastermind. He could face charges of violating regulations on State asset management and use, leading to losses and wastefulness, and those on land management.

His successor, Chien, 65, who led the city from 2011 and 2014, was also likely to face the same charges.

Earlier, the agency launched legal proceeding against Minh and Chien on the charges of “violating regulations on State asset management and use, causing losses and wastefulness” and “violating State regulations on land management.”

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