Former Binh Thuan province chairman detained for state asset management violations

The Ministry of Public Security's investigative agency has launched legal proceedings against and arrested Le Tien Phuong, former chairman of Binh Thuan province for the 2011-2016 term.

In a Friday statement, the ministry said Phuong was charged with “violating rules on management of state assets, leading to losses and wastefulness,” in a case related to a coastal tourism, urban area project.

The project, invested by local firm Rang Dong JSC, is located in Phan Thiet town, the tourism hub of the south-central province.

Eleven others in the case face the same charges. In particular, police have launched legal proceedings against and arrested Xa Duong Thang, former director of the provincial Department of Construction; Do Ngoc Diep, former chairperson of Phan Thiet town; Ho Nhu Hai, former vice director of the Binh Thuan branch of a price appraisal company; and Le Anh Huy, former head of the general administration office of Binh Thuan’s land management authority.

Police have also launched legal proceedings against and temporarily arrested Nguyen Van Phong, former vice chairman of Binh Thuan and former standing member of the province’s land evaluation committee; Ho Lam, former director of the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment; Le Nguyen Thanh Danh, former vice head of the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment; Nguyen Thanh Cho, former head of Binh Thuan’s land management authority; Le Nam Hung, former vice head of the province’s land management authority; and Pham Duy Cuong, former head of Phan Thiet town's Department of Natural Resources and Environment.

Currently, all six people are serving jail terms in another case.

Nguyen Xuan Phong, former head of Binh Thuan's Department of Taxation, is under house arrest, while arrest warrants have been issued for Le Tien Phuong, Xa Duong Thang, Do Ngoc Diep, Ho Nhu Hai, Le Anh Huy, and Nguyen Xuan Phong.

The 62-hectare Phan Thiet coastal tourism, urban area project was initiated in 2013 when Binh Thuan authorities permitted Rang Dong JSC to transform the then-golf course into the project.

A major violation was the non-inclusion of 20% of the allocated land for social housing. At the time, the firm received approval to construct social housing in another area outside the project site, and paid money for the original land to become residential land. Another violation was the low valuation of land for the project.