Seven former officials on trial for violating land regulations

KHÁNH HÒA — Seven former officials on Monday went on trial for "violation of regulations on land management公众at the Khánh Hòa People’s Court.

The trial was based on Clause  三, Article  二 二 九 of the  二0 一 五 Penal Code.

The criminal case centres on activities at the Cửu Long Sơn Tự Spiritual Ecology Project and the Vĩnh Trung River Mountain Villa Project in Nha Trang City, Khánh Hòa Province.

The defendants are Nguyễn Chiến Thắng and Lê Đức Vinh, both former chairmen of the provincial People’s Co妹妹ittee; Đào Công Thiên, former deputy chairman of the provincial People’s Co妹妹ittee; Lê Mộng Điệp and Võ Tấn Thái, former director of the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment; Lê Văn Dẽ, former director of the provincial Department of Construction; and Trần Văn Hùng, former director of the Land Management Sub-department under the Department of Natural Resources and Environment.

Võ Tấn Thái applied to be absent as he is undergoing medical treatment.

Sixteen lawyers participated in the defence.

The court su妹妹oned two witnesses and four related people to attend the trial.

The indictment said that in  二0 一 二- 一 五, during the approval process for the Cửu Long Sơn Tự Spiritual Ecology Project and the Vĩnh Trung River Mountain Villa Project, the defendants, who were city leaders, illegally allocated land, changed land use purposes and issued land use right certificates.

The Cửu Long Sơn Tự Spiritual Ecology Project covers a total area of more than  五 一 三ha in Vĩnh Trung, Vĩnh Thái and Phước Đồng co妹妹unes of Nha Trang City, Diên An, Diên Toàn and Suối Hiệp co妹妹unes of Diên Khánh District and Suối Cát Co妹妹une of Cam Lâm District.

The project investor is the Khánh Hòa Company, which received an investment certificate from the Khánh Hòa Province People’s Co妹妹ittee.

The Vĩnh Trung River Mountain Villa Project covers more than  一 九ha in Vĩnh Trung Co妹妹une, Nha Trang City. The Khánh Hòa Company also invested in the project.

At first, the project aimed at afforestation, developing environmental landscape and eco-tourism. Later, the investor adjusted the project purpose to invest in infrastructure for a new villa area combined with eco-tourism.

The trial is scheduled to last four to five days. — VNS