HCMC - The Investigation Department on Economic, Corruption-related Crimes and Smuggling under the Ministry of Public Security has detained six ex-leaders and leaders of the southern province of Binh Duong for violating regulations on the management of State assets and causing wastefulness and losses in accordance with Clause 219 of the Penal Code.

They comprise Pham Van Canh, former deputy secretary of the Binh Duong Party Committee and former chairman of the Binh Duong People’s Council; Tran Thanh Liem, former secretary of the provincial Party Committee and former chairman of the provincial People's Committee; Nguyen Thanh Truc, vice chairman of the provincial People's Committee; Tran Xuan Lam, chief inspector of the province; Vo Van Luong, chief of the provincial government office and Ngo Dung Phuong, head of the Party Finance Department of the provincial Party Committee Office.

The Supreme People's Procuracy has approved the investigation department’s decision to file charges against them and raid their houses.

The standing board of the Binh Duong Party Committee in the 2015-2020 tenure and the Party Civil Affairs Committee of the Binh Duong People’s Committee in the 2016-2021 term flouted working regulations and showed a lack of responsibility, slack leadership and poor supervision, leading to the mismanagement and misuse of land, capital and assets at the Binh Duong Production and Import-Export Corporation, also known as Corporation 3-2.

Pham Van Canh bears responsibility for the violations committed by the standing board of the Binh Duong Party Committee and the signing of a document endorsing the illegal transfer of the Tan Phu project to a private firm and violations at Corporation 3-2.

Tran Thanh Liem was held liable for the violations of the standing board of the Binh Duong Party Committee and the Party Affairs Committee of the Binh Duong People’s Committee and the supplementation of documents to allow for the illegal transfer of the Tan Phu project to a private firm.

The four others were found to be involved in the case.

In 2010, Corporation 3-2, a business entity under the Binh Duong Party Committee, and Au Lac Company jointly established Tan Phu Company to develop a project on 43 hectares of land on Pham Ngoc Thach and Vo Van Kiet streets. Au Lac contributed VND140 billion to Tan Phu with a 70% stake.

In 2016, Corporation 3-2 transferred the land to the Tan Phu Company at over VND250 billion, which the Ministry of Public Security concluded as against the regulations on asset appraisal and auction, causing losses of over VND126 billion.

The Inspection Commission of the Party Central Committee has earlier proposed relieving Liem, Truc, Lam, Luong and Phuong from all Party posts.