Former Khanh Hoa Officials Sentenced to Prison for “Manipulating” Land Titles

On November 4th, the People’s Court of Zone 4 in Khanh Hoa Province handed down sentences to six former officials involved in land management violations in Van Thanh Commune, former Van Ninh District—now Dai Lanh Commune, Khanh Hoa Province.

The trial panel sentenced Nguyen Thanh Nam (former Chairman of Van Thanh Commune People’s Committee) to 8 years in prison and Tran Cong Danh (former land administration officer) to 6 years and 6 months in prison, both for “Abusing Power While on Duty.”

Le Hoang Vuong (former Vice Chairman of the Commune People’s Committee), Lam Tuan Anh (former Director of the Van Ninh District Land Registration Office Branch), Vo Thanh Son (former Head of the District Natural Resources and Environment Department), and Nguyen Quoc Duy (former Head of the Appraisal Team at the Land Registration Office Branch) received sentences of 4 years, 4 years, 4 years, and 3 years (suspended), respectively, for “Negligence Causing Serious Consequences.”

The former officials were accused of exploiting their positions, neglecting duties, and failing to comply with land management laws. Their actions resulted in the state losing control and usage rights over five land plots valued at over 2.8 billion VND at the time of certification.

During the trial, the panel found that the defendants’ repeated offenses undermined land management, disrupted planning, and damaged public trust.

Nguyen Thanh Nam knowingly approved certifications for abandoned land ineligible for ownership titles. Driven by personal gain, he directed subordinates to fabricate documents, falsify land origins, and manipulate usage timelines.

Specifically, for two plots in Khai Luong Village, Nam instructed Tran Cong Danh to create fraudulent applications, even forging buyer details and authorizing measurements. After obtaining certifications from the former Van Ninh District People’s Committee, Nam brokered the sale of these plots for 6.1 billion VND in illicit profits.

In another case involving a plot in Dam Mon Village, Nam approved a certification application lacking planning compliance confirmation. While not criminally charged, investigators deemed this indicative of lax land management and negligence.

The panel considered the defendants’ cooperation, voluntary restitution, and mitigating factors when determining the sentences.

The court found that the certification process for the land plots violated legal regulations. All plots were under the management of the former Van Thanh Commune People’s Committee.

The initial land ownership certificates for the five plots, issued based on the defendants’ criminal actions, were deemed invalid and legally unenforceable.

The court annulled the initial certificates and all derivative documents (subdivisions, transfers, corrections), ordering current occupants to return the land and assets to the Dai Lanh Commune People’s Committee.