Chairman of Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee under investigation for accepting bribes
On January 2, Lieutenant General To An Xo, spokesman for the Ministry of Public Security, said that the Department of Investigation Police on Corruption, Economic Crimes, and Smuggling (Ministry of Public Security) has just issued a decision to prosecute and temporarily detain Mr. Tran Van Hiep (58 years old), Chairman of the People's Committee of Lam Dong province, for the crime of Receiving bribes, according to Clause 4, Article 353 of the Penal Code. The police searched Mr. Hiep's residence on Yersin Street, Da Lat City.
According to the Ministry of Public Security, the case is under the supervision and direction of the Central Steering Committee on Anti-Corruption and Anti-Negative Practices. Mr. Tran Van Hiep was determined by the investigation agency to have received bribes related to the Dai Ninh urban commercial, tourism and ecological resort project in Lam Dong (Saigon - Dai Ninh project).
The Nam Da Lat Urban Area Project (Dai Ninh Commercial Urban Area, Eco-tourism and Resort Project of Saigon Dai Ninh Tourism Investment Joint Stock Company) was granted an investment certificate by the People's Committee of Lam Dong province in 2010, with a scale of 3,595 hectares, spread over 4 communes in Duc Trong district, with a total investment of 25,243 billion VND, expected implementation period from 2010 - 2018.
After 13 years of implementation, the project has only completed a few items, including: 15 working and resting houses for experts, 1 conference hall, 6 rest stops, about 20km of internal roads and planting more than 10ha of forest on the cleared encroached area. The items have degraded, the concrete structure is damaged, and the steel is rusted.
The 25,243 billion VND super project has caused many officials to get into trouble with the law.
Regarding this project, in June 2020, the Government Inspectorate announced conclusion No. 929, requesting the People's Committee of Lam Dong province to terminate the operation and reclaim the land of the Saigon Dai Ninh project due to violations of land and investment laws. After this conclusion, Saigon - Dai Ninh Company sent a petition to many competent agencies to reconsider the revocation of the project.
In July 2021, the Government Inspectorate issued a document announcing the amendment of some contents in Conclusion 929, withdrawing the request to terminate operations and reclaim land for this project. The Government Inspectorate requested the People's Committee of Lam Dong province, based on its authority, to guide enterprises in implementing procedures to extend progress and adjust projects according to the 2014 Investment Law. At the same time, extend land use according to the 2013 Land Law, complete the project as committed; invest according to the approved scale.
Lam Dong Province Department of Planning and Investment then considered allowing the project to continue implementation according to the conclusion of the Government Inspectorate, and at the same time established a working group to remove difficulties and obstacles for the investor, Saigon - Dai Ninh Company.
In August 2023, Ms. Tran Bich Ngoc - Director of the Department of Monitoring Inspection, Handling of Complaints and Denunciations, Prevention and Combat of Corruption, Smuggling, Trade Fraud and Counterfeit Goods (Department I), Government Office was arrested for the crime of "Abusing position and power while performing official duties". Initial investigation results show that Ms. Ngoc took advantage of her position to violate her assigned duties and responsibilities in handling inspections and complaints regarding the Dai Ninh project, causing damage to the interests of the State.
The Saigon - Dai Ninh project was also mentioned in connection with Van Thinh Phat Group. In which, Capella Group Chairman Nguyen Cao Tri used the project to appropriate Ms. Truong My Lan's assets. In 2020, after many transactions, Mr. Tri paid 2,230 billion VND to successfully own 58% of the charter capital of Saigon - Dai Ninh Company.
Mr. Tri agreed to sell 100% of his capital to Ms. Lan for 3,000 billion VND. Ms. Lan transferred 5 deposits to Mr. Tri totaling 20 million USD (about 460 billion VND) and 127 billion VND. The investigation agency determined that in this project and two other projects, "tycoon" Nguyen Cao Tri had appropriated 40 million USD (equivalent to 1,000 billion VND) from the chairman of Van Thinh Phat.
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