Nam Dinh Provincial Police have charged the former Chairman of the Nam Dinh City People’s Committee, Nguyen Tien Dung, and seven junior officials with defrauding some 790 households of over VND20 billion (some US$1.25 million) in the province’s biggest-ever land scam.

The illegally grabbed land in Nam Van Commune

Over 2000-2004, the People’s Committee of Nam Van commune, chaired by Do Huu Tuan, collected over VND20.7 billion from the households under the pretence the Committee could rezone farm land into tenured land.

The Committee also set land prices arbitrarily and illegally granted ten hectares to the residents in question.

The case is reminiscent of a 2006 land scam in Do Son Town in Hai Phong City. There, local officials allocated state land to 33 ineligible families, including officials and their families.

The court at the time issued a questionable verdict, merely warning the three defendants who then only had to pay legal costs of VND50,000 (US$3.12).

The former Director of Hai Phong Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Chu Minh Tuan, was charged with negligence causing serious damages but received only administrative discipline as punishment.

The trial stirred discontent among local people and there were rumors Hai Phong City leaders intervened in the case on Tuan’s behalf.

The light sentence and public noise prompted Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung to order a retrial, which took place two months later. The court then overturned the first sentence and ordered a fresh investigation, which led to heavier convictions, with eight officials sentenced to 3-7 years in prison.