On September 18, the Hanoi People’s Court sentenced Trinh Xuan Hanh (born in 1976, former officer at the Institute of Economic and Environmental Management under the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations) to 14 years in prison and Tran Van Phap (born in 1964, residing in former Trung Hoa Ward, Cau Giay District) to 12 years for “Fraud to Appropriate Property.”
Case files reveal that in 2003, Phan Thi Xuyen (born in 1958, Hanoi resident) purchased 9 agricultural land plots totaling 1,890 square meters from households in former Dong Ngac Ward, Bac Tu Liem District. In 2016, Xuyen informed Vu Dinh Phuc (born in 1963, Hanoi resident) about the Dong Ngac Ward People’s Committee’s notice to reclaim part of the land for a neighborhood cultural center project.
The two agreed that if Phuc could secure a 50-year land-use certificate (“red book”), Xuyen would transfer half of her land to him. Phuc would cover all associated costs.
Through connections, Phuc met Tran Van Phap (introduced as an inspector from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment) and Trinh Xuan Hanh. The group inspected the land together.
Phap claimed he could secure a 50-year agricultural land certificate and relocate the project elsewhere. The cost was 3 billion VND, with an initial payment of 2 billion VND and the remainder due upon certificate issuance.
Illustrative image.
Phuc and Xuyen signed an agreement authorizing Phuc to handle procedures for land certification, tax payments, and receipt of the certificate, with compensation as previously agreed.
Between December 10, 2016, and February 26, 2017, Phuc’s spouse gave Phap 2 billion VND for the certificate. Phuc requested a receipt, but Phap refused, instructing intermediary Hoang Thi Duyen to write it instead.
Investigations revealed Phap gave Hanh 1.5 billion VND in three installments for land paperwork and made one bank transfer. Phap introduced Phuc and Duyen to Hanh, claiming Hanh worked at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and would guide the certification process.
In June 2017, Xuyen received another notice from the Bac Tu Liem District People’s Committee and Dong Ngac Ward about land reclamation. Hanh promised to convert 197 square meters of agricultural land into permanent residential land, valued higher, for 600 million VND.
In July-August 2017, Xuyen and Phuc paid Hanh the full 600 million VND.
On October 21, 2017, Hanh collected the amended land certificate from the Bac Tu Liem District Land Registration Office and gave it to Xuyen. The certificate remained agricultural land, with only the area adjusted to 197 square meters, not residential land as agreed. Xuyen and Phuc repeatedly demanded refunds from Hanh and Phap but were denied.
In mid-2021, Phuc filed a complaint with the police. In 2023-2024, Phap and Hanh were arrested.
On June 23, 2023, the former Bac Tu Liem District People’s Committee issued a decision reclaiming Xuyen’s remaining land for a new construction project. All of Xuyen’s agricultural land has now been reclaimed.
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