Regarding the case of management and use of state capital and assets at Vietnam Tobacco Corporation (project 152 Tran Phu, Ward 4, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City), on the evening of December 26, Lieutenant Colonel Vu Thanh Tung, Deputy Director of the Department of Investigation Police on crimes of corruption, economy, and smuggling, Ministry of Public Security, said:

On July 23, 2018, the Government Inspectorate issued Inspection Decision No. 642/QD-TTCP on compliance with the law in the management, use of capital, assets and restructuring at Vinataba. On September 20, 2022, the Government Inspectorate issued Conclusion No. 996/KL-TTCP on Vietnam Tobacco Corporation, concluding that a number of violations occurred at Project 152 Tran Phu such as:

Violating the law on transferring assets of enterprises in which the State holds 100% of the charter capital when transferring 30,927.7m2 of land at 152 Tran Phu, there is a risk of losing money of the enterprise, the State... and has assigned the State Capital Management Committee to preside with the Ministry of Finance, Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, Vinataba and related ministries and branches to recover the real estate (30,927.7m2) at 152 Tran Phu and handle any arising issues in the process of recovering this real estate.

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The land certificate for this land has been revoked and canceled by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Chi Hung

The Ministry of Public Security will continue to monitor the situation related to the implementation of the Decision on land recovery at 152 Tran Phu according to Conclusion No. 996/KL-TTCP dated September 20, 2022 of the competent authorities to deploy measures in accordance with the provisions of law.

Previously, according to information from the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (TN-MT) of Ho Chi Minh City, this unit chaired a meeting with relevant departments, branches and the People's Committee of District 5 on the implementation of the decision to reclaim 30,972.7 square meters of land at 152 Tran Phu, Ward 4, District 5.

This land is considered one of the “golden lands” in District 5, Ho Chi Minh City with three frontages on Tran Phu – Le Hong Phong – Tran Nhan Ton streets. With the purpose of building a complex of office buildings and luxury apartments, this land belongs to the Vietnam National Tobacco Corporation (Vinataba).

After being granted the certificate in August 2005, Vinataba contributed the right to use this land to Vina Alliance Company Limited.

In October 2022, the Government Inspectorate announced the inspection conclusion at Vietnam Tobacco Corporation, thereby pointing out a series of shortcomings and violations at this enterprise. Accordingly, during the equitization process, Vinataba committed many violations in cooperating in project implementation, divestment and transfer of the "golden land" at 152 Tran Phu, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City to private hands.

Vinataba's failure to re-evaluate its assets is not in accordance with regulations on management of State-owned enterprise assets. The Government Inspectorate believes that Vinataba violated the Prime Minister's instructions and the law on transferring assets of enterprises in which the State holds 100% of the charter capital when transferring 30,927.7 square meters at 152 Tran Phu without permission from the Prime Minister; did not conduct an auction of land use rights, which risks losing State and enterprise money.

The Government Inspectorate has recommended that the Prime Minister direct the State Capital Management Committee at Enterprises to preside over, together with the Ministry of Finance, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee and relevant ministries and branches, the recovery of the above land and handling any arising issues during the recovery process.

In the announcement of the inspection conclusion, Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai also gave strong instructions, requiring relevant units to implement; at the same time, review, clarify and handle the responsibilities of relevant individuals and groups.

However, up to now, relevant agencies and units have not announced a plan to resolve the incident, nor to handle individuals and groups according to recommendations and instructions.

Regarding the above land, implementing the conclusion of the Government Inspectorate, on October 25, 2023, the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City issued Decision No. 4856/QD-UBND on the recovery of land plot No. 152 Tran Phu; requesting Vinataba and Vina Alliance Company Limited (a joint venture company established to manage the project) to hand over this land plot to the Ho Chi Minh City Land Fund Development Center for receipt and management according to regulations; at the same time, hand over the original copy of the issued Land Use Rights Certificate.