The investigation agency (Ministry of Public Security) has just completed the investigation conclusion, proposing to prosecute 17 defendants in the case of "Violating regulations on management and use of State assets causing waste and loss" occurring at the Phan Thiet Urban Area Project (Binh Thuan).

Among those proposed for prosecution are Mr. Le Tien Phuong, former Chairman of the People's Committee of Binh Thuan province; Xa Duong Thang, former Director of the Department of Construction, former Secretary of the Bac Binh District Party Committee; Ho Lam, former Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment; Do Ngoc Diep, former Chairman of the People's Committee of Phan Thiet city; Nguyen Van Phong, former Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee.

According to the investigation, in 1993, the Government approved Regent International OverSeas Corp (Hong Kong, China) to invest in the Ocean Dunes Golf Club project (Phan Thiet golf course), with a scale of 62 hectares. The Government leased the land to this enterprise for a period of 50 years to carry out the project.

In September 2013, Mr. Rajinder Pal Singh, Chairman of Regent International OverSeas Corp., signed with Mr. Nguyen Van Dong, Chairman of Rang Dong Joint Stock Company, a contract to transfer 100% of the capital, rights and obligations at Phan Thiet Golf and Golf Club LLC to Rang Dong Joint Stock Company, worth 2.5 million USD. From here, Rang Dong Company was allowed to continue implementing the project, then submit a request to adjust the investment certificate.

In November 2013, Mr. Le Tien Phuong, Chairman of Binh Thuan Provincial People's Committee, issued a Certificate allowing Rang Dong Company to inherit all obligations, rights and interests of the old investor. After that, Rang Dong Company requested the provincial government to "convert golf course land to urban residential land at the Ocean Dunes Golf Club project".

The conversion of golf course land to urban residential land is sensitive, affects the environment, natural landscape, and is related to the interests of the majority of people, so Mr. Le Tien Phuong organized a meeting of the People's Committee and concluded that it is necessary to consult the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee before implementing it.

In March 2014, Mr. Phuong signed an official dispatch to report to the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee, requesting consideration of the policy on converting the land use purpose of Phan Thiet golf course to urban residential land, as proposed by Rang Dong Company. If approved, the Provincial People's Committee will establish procedures according to regulations to submit to the Prime Minister and relevant ministries and branches for consideration and simultaneously adjust the number of golf course plans in the province by 2020...

Mr. Huynh Van Ti, then Secretary of Binh Thuan Provincial Party Committee, chaired a meeting of the Standing Committee and agreed: "Agree to let the Provincial People's Committee report and propose to the Prime Minister to allow the conversion of the entire 62ha golf course land use purpose to build an urban area at the Ocean Dunes Golf Club project of Rang Dong Joint Stock Company".

The dossier was sent to the Central Government but met with public opinion, so the People's Committee of Binh Thuan province had to report again. The province presented, analyzed carefully, considered thoroughly, evaluated all aspects and reached a high consensus to convert the golf course land into urban land. After that, the Prime Minister approved to remove Phan Thiet golf course from the Vietnam golf course planning to invest in building an urban area.

Binh Thuan authorities adjusted the project from sports land (golf course) to residential land, assigned Rang Dong Company to make a construction plan with the following structure: Traffic land accounts for over 30%; Public works land (neighborhood houses, kindergartens, nurseries) accounts for about 0.4%, Public park land accounts for over 8%; Residential land combined with commercial services accounts for no more than 60%.

During the project implementation, the defendants made mistakes in approving the price of more than 10 hectares of land for high-rise buildings in the project, contrary to regulations, causing a loss of more than 154 billion VND. In addition, the valuation of more than 25 hectares of low-rise buildings was also illegal, causing a loss of 154 billion VND. The investigation agency determined that the defendants' criminal acts caused a total loss of more than 308 billion VND.