Binh ThuanWorking groups of the Police Investigation Agency of the Ministry of Public Security simultaneously appeared at the private homes of many former leaders of Binh Thuan province on the afternoon of April 26.
Police forces and prosecutors appeared in front of the house of Mr. Le Tien Phuong, former chairman of the People’s Committee of Binh Thuan province. Image: Nguyen Tu
This move was made by the authorities after more than a year of prosecuting the case and investigating signs Because violating regulations on management and use of state assets causing loss and wasteoccurred at the Phan Thiet Beach Tourism Urban Area Project, Binh Thuan province.
Nearly 2:00 p.m., many police officers riding in two vehicles with license plates 80A of the Ministry of Public Security entered the house of Mr. Le Tien Phuong, former chairman of the People’s Committee of Binh Thuan province, on Nguyen Tuong street, Phu Thuy ward, Phan Thiet city. In addition to people wearing police uniforms, there were also Procuracy officers and local government representatives.
Police cars maintain security and order in front of the house of Mr. Xa Duong Thang, former director of the Binh Thuan Construction Department on Tuyen Quang street. Image: Nguyen Tu
About 200 meters away, on Tuyen Quang Street, another working group of the Ministry of Public Security and the Procuracy also entered the house of Mr. Xa Duong Thang, former director of the Binh Thuan Department of Construction; Former Secretary of Bac Binh District Party Committee, opposite Phu Thuy apartment building.
Similarly, at the house of Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phong, former deputy director of Binh Thuan Tax Department on Hung Vuong Street, officers from the Police Investigation Agency of the Ministry of Public Security also appeared.
Road sections where vehicles from the Ministry of Public Security appear have local police forces supporting and ensuring security in the area.
Currently, the Ministry of Public Security has not announced any legal proceedings against the above former leaders of Binh Thuan.
Panoramic view of the Phan Thiet coastal tourist urban area project, Binh Thuan province. Image: Vietnam
Phan Thiet golf course has an area of more than 62 hectares, invested by American billionaire Larry Hillblom, and licensed by the State Committee for Cooperation and Investment in 1993; has been in operation since 1997. On November 15, 2013, Binh Thuan province transferred capital in the project and the new investor is Rang Dong Joint Stock Company with the goal of building and operating a golf course that meets national standards. facilities and accompanying service works.
A month later, Rang Dong Company sent a document requesting the People’s Committee of Binh Thuan province to convert golf course land to urban residential land to “invest in construction and business of villas, garden houses, townhouses, high-rise buildings and supporting infrastructure works”.
In March 2014, Chairman of Binh Thuan Provincial People’s Committee Le Tien Phuong agreed on the above proposal. The golf course land was decided by the People’s Council of Binh Thuan province to be converted to urban land with an area of more than 620,000 m2 located in a prime location in Phan Thiet city, adjacent to Doi Duong beach and two major roads Nguyen Tat Thanh and Ton. Duc Thang, the remaining part is adjacent to the existing urban area.
Of which, the area for which land use fees must be collected is more than 363,000 m2, accounting for more than 58%; The area without land use fees is about 257,000 m2, accounting for more than 41%.
On November 25, 2015, the Chairman of Binh Thuan Provincial People’s Committee approved the total land use fee payable of 936.8 billion VND, equivalent to more than 2.5 million VND/m2. At this time, the lowest market price in Phan Thiet and the roads surrounding the project is about 10 million VND/m2, the highest is 24 million VND/m2. The investor then builds infrastructure, divides plots to sell at prices ranging from 20 to 30 million VND/m2.
In August 2021, the case of Phan Thiet golf course being converted into an urban area in Binh Thuan was put under surveillance by the Central Steering Committee for Anti-Corruption after detecting signs of violations.
Regarding this case, in April 2022, the Politburo warned the Standing Committee of the Binh Thuan Provincial Party Committee for the terms 2010-2015, 2015-2020, and the Party Committee of the People’s Committee of Binh Thuan province for the terms 2011-2016, 2016- 2021. Mr. Huynh Van Ti, former Secretary of the Binh Thuan Provincial Party Committee (terms 2005-2010, 2010-2015) was reprimanded; Mr. Nguyen Manh Hung, former Secretary of the Binh Thuan Provincial Party Committee (term 2015-2020) was warned; Mr. Le Tien Phuong, former Deputy Secretary – Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee (term 2011-2016), was removed from all positions in the party.
This is also one of 9 “golden land” projects in Binh Thuan that the Ministry of Public Security verified and investigated based on criminal complaints from local citizens, including: Tan Viet commercial, service and residential area. Phat 2, Phan Thiet coastal tourist urban area, Xuan Quynh tourist area, Mui Ne ward picnic area, Sealinks Mui Ne golf course villa area, lake complex for urban embellishment and commercial services Hung Long commercial center, Le Quy Don kindergarten, Hamubay sea reclamation area, Duc Long ward, project to build embankment to prevent sea erosion in Duc Long ward.
The Ministry of Public Security has also prosecuted the case Violating regulations on management and use of State assets causes loss and waste occurred at the Tan Viet Phat 2 project. In May 2023, former Chairman of Binh Thuan Provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Ngoc Hai was sentenced to 5 years in prison; Former Vice Chairman of the province Luong Van Hai received 42 months in prison; Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Van Phong received 24 months in prison. The other 9 defendants, former leaders and officials of departments and branches of Binh Thuan province, received from 18 months of suspended prison terms to 5 years in prison.
Tu Huynh
