VĨNH PHÚC — Vĩnh Phúc Province People’s Court yesterday sentenced to prison eight former local officials at the first instance hearing.

The accused, former officials of Vĩnh Yên City, were sentenced for abusing their position and power while doing public duty.

The eight accused officials include Lại Hữu Lân, former Chairman of Vĩnh Yên City’s Peoples’ Committee, Secretary of Vĩnh Yên City’s Party Committee; Nguyễn Ngọc Quyền, former chief of the provincial People’s Committee, Chairman of Vĩnh Yên City’s Peoples’ Committee and Secretary of Vĩnh Yên City’s Party Committee; Nguyễn Xuân Trường, former Chairman of Đồng Tâm Ward’s People’s Committee, Secretary of Đồng Tâm Ward’s Party Committee; Nguyễn Xuân Liên, former official of provincial People’s Committee office, Deputy Chairman of Tam Đảo District’s People’s Committee.

The other three officials -- Nguyễn Thị Kim Liên, Nguyễn Thị Ngọc and Vũ Văn Chức -- are all officials of Vĩnh Yên City’s departments.

Dương Đình Tâm is a resident running a business in Vĩnh Yên City.

According to the court verdict, since 2006, the eight officials abused power to order the compilation of illegal documents, confiscated 25ha of land from the residents and handed it over to Nguyễn Anh Quân and Dương Đình Tâm. The land then was put under the name “Farming project of Đồng Tâm Ward” invested by Đồng Tâm Ward’s People’s Committee.

The court concluded that the offenders hold power and have knowledge about the Land Law, land use and planning regulations. 

The illegal action of offenders “causes destruction to the State, triggers public anger and harms the reputation of local state agencies.”

Lại Hữu Lân and Nguyễn Ngọc Quyền were sentenced to five years and nine months in prison. Nguyễn Xuân Trường was given three years and nine month imprisonment, while Nguyễn Thị Kim Liên was subjected to a suspended sentence of three years with challenging time of up to five years.

The other offenders were given two years and three months to three years in jail.

Nguyễn Anh Quân who prompted the offence has escaped. The provincial investigative police have issued an arrest warrant against him. — VNS