An apartment building project owned by Mường Thanh Group. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — The Hà Nội People’s Procuracy has approved a decision to start legal proceedings against three defendants involved in allegedly defrauding customers at the Mường Thanh Group apartment building project.

The defendants are Nguyễn Duy Uyển, chairman of the People’s Committee of Kiến Hưng Ward, Hà Đông District; Mai Quang Bài, official of Hà Đông District’s construction order management team; and Vương Đăng Quân, former construction chief inspector of Hà Đông District.

They have been charged with "lacking responsibility causing serious consequences" and are being kept in temporary detention for further investigation.

The three allegedly became involved in a series of construction violations related to real estate tycoon Lê Thanh Thản, the chairman of Mường Thanh Group, one of the biggest private owners of hotels and resorts in Việt Nam.

Thản was charged with defrauding customers at the CT6 apartment building project in Kiến Hưng Urban Area of the Bemes Production and Import-Export JSC where he serves as general director.

Hà Nội police started criminal proceedings against Thản in early July and issued a house and workplace search warrant. Thản was banned from leaving his place of residence.

According to the procuracy, the Kiến Hưng project in Hà Đông District included one building that had been erected without a licence and had not submitted blueprint documents to the authorities. All the apartments have been sold.

Bemes allegedly provided customers with misleading information about the legal status of the apartments. The company claimed the apartments’ owners would be eligible for “red books", or land use rights certificates, that could help lure customers to make advance payments.

However, customers still have not obtained the red books, and land authorities have denied their requests on the grounds of insufficient licencing for the properties.

An investigation is continuing. — VNS