Prosecution of former Minister Mai Tien Dung, former Provincial Party Secretary and former Chairman of Lam Dong

Regarding the Dai Ninh Urban Area Project for Trade, Tourism and Ecological Resort, which occurred in Lam Dong province and several related localities, the Supreme People's Procuracy prosecuted 10 defendants.

Defendants: Mai Tien Dung, Tran Duc Quan and Tran Van Hiep.

The Supreme People's Procuracy has just issued an indictment in the case of "Giving bribes", "Receiving bribes" and "Abusing position and power while performing official duties" related to the Dai Ninh Urban Commercial, Tourism and Ecological Resort Project, which occurred in Lam Dong province and a number of related localities.

The Supreme People's Procuracy prosecuted 10 defendants, including former Minister and Head of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung and former Secretary of Lam Dong Provincial Party Committee Tran Duc Quan, who were prosecuted for "Abusing position and power while performing official duties."

Former Chairman of Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee Tran Van Hiep; former Deputy Director of the Department of Inspection for Complaints and Denunciations, Region 2 (Department II, Government Inspectorate) Le Quoc Khanh; former Chief Inspector of Lam Dong Province Nguyen Ngoc Anh were all prosecuted for the crime of "Receiving bribes."

Former Director of the Department of Monitoring Inspection, Handling of Complaints and Denunciations, Prevention of Corruption, Smuggling, Trade Fraud and Counterfeit Goods (Department I, Government Office) Tran Bich Ngoc; former Director of Department II, Government Inspectorate Nguyen Hong Giang were both prosecuted for the crime of "Abusing position and power while performing official duties."

Defendant Nguyen Cao Tri (General Director of Saigon Dai Ninh Company) was prosecuted for the crime of "Giving bribes."

According to the indictment, due to determining violations of the law in land management, use and construction investment, the Government Inspectorate issued Conclusion 929 recommending to terminate the operation and reclaim land of the Dai Ninh Project in accordance with the law.

After agreeing to buy back the Dai Ninh Project, Nguyen Cao Tri used money and relationships to influence defendants in the Government Office and the Government Inspectorate; colluded, agreed, bribed, and manipulated defendants in the Government Inspectorate and the Provincial Party Committee and People's Committee of Lam Dong Province so that defendants in the above-mentioned State management agencies could take advantage of their assigned positions and powers to commit acts contrary to their duties and responsibilities, helping Tri change Inspection Conclusion No. 929 from terminating the operation and reclaiming the land of the Project to not reclaiming, extending the progress and continuing to implement the Project according to Conclusion 1033, causing particularly serious consequences.

Specifically, according to the investigation results, in 2010, Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee granted an Investment Certificate to Saigon Dai Ninh Company to implement the Dai Ninh Urban Area Project for Trade, Tourism and Ecological Resort (abbreviated as Dai Ninh Project), in Phu Hoi, Ninh Gia, Ta Hine and Ninh Loan communes, Duc Trong district, Lam Dong province.

The project has a total investment of over VND25,200 billion, with an operating period of 50 years. The total land area planned for the project is nearly 3,600 hectares.

During the inspection of land management, use and construction investment in Lam Dong province from 2013 to 2018, the Government Inspectorate determined that Saigon Dai Ninh Company had many violations during the implementation of the Dai Ninh Project.

The company did not comply with financial obligations, did not pay land use fees and compensation for damage to forest resources and environment; allowed people to re-encroach; progress was not as committed.

Therefore, the Government Inspectorate recommends that the Prime Minister assign the People's Committee of Lam Dong province to terminate the operation and reclaim land of the Dai Ninh Project.

Knowing this, defendant Nguyen Cao Tri agreed to buy back the Dai Ninh Project. Defendant Tri took advantage of his relationships, used money and material benefits to connect and collude with a number of individuals in the Government Office, the Government Inspectorate, Lam Dong Provincial Party Committee and Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee to illegally change and adjust State decisions.

This caused some individuals at the Government Inspectorate to commit illegal acts when issuing a new report, canceling the recommendation to revoke the Dai Ninh Project.

Some officials in Lam Dong province agreed to change the business registration, transfer the project to defendant Tri and then agreed not to revoke the project.

The above actions caused the project to be withdrawn and then extended and continued, the beneficiary was defendant Tri.

In addition, the State failed to reclaim 3,595 hectares of reservoir land of the Dai Ninh Project, causing waste of land resources.

Since the Dai Ninh Project was approved for a delay, Saigon Dai Ninh Company has not implemented the project, has not built any new items, and has continued to commit 24 violations such as deforestation, illegal encroachment, etc.

Nguyen Cao Tri repeatedly gave bribes totaling VND 7.05 billion to defendants at the Government Inspectorate and the Provincial Party Committee and People's Committee of Lam Dong province so that the defendants could commit violations, helping Tri achieve the goal of changing the Inspection Conclusion, from terminating the operation and reclaiming the land of the Project to not reclaiming, extending the progress and continuing to implement the Project contrary to the provisions of law.

Nguyen Cao Tri gave a total of 2.1 billion VND 5 times to Tran Duc Quan; gave a total of 4.2 billion VND 7 times to Tran Van Hiep.

Nguyen Cao Tri gave a total of 750 million VND to the defendants who were members of the Working Group, including: Le Quoc Khanh, Hoang Van Xuan, Nguyen Nho Dinh, and Nguyen Ngoc Anh.

Nguyen Cao Tri also gave former Minister and Head of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung 200 million VND; Tran Bich Ngoc received 50 million VND from Tri./.

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