Hanoi (VNA) - The HanoiPeople’s Procuracy on January 7 proposed jail sentences ranging from 18 to 27years for two former chairmen of the Da Nang City People’s Committee forviolations in land management and causing losses and waste of State resources.

Tran Van Minh, former Chairmanof the Da Nang City People’s Committee for the 2006-2011 term, faces 25 to 27years in prison for two charges of “violating regulations on managing and usingState assets, causing losses and wastefulness” and “violating land managementregulations”.

A prison term of 18 to 20 yearswas proposed for Van Huu Chien, former Chairman of the municipal People’sCommittee in the 2011-2016 term for similar charges.

Phan Van Anh Vu, known as VuNhom, who illegally acquired 15 State-owned buildings and six land projects in DaNang, may get 25 to 27 years in prison for the two charges.

According to the indictment,Tran Van Minh and Van Huu Chien held key leadership positions of Da Nang cityand were in charge of State property management, use and land management.

The two defendants violatedlaws and ordered their staff to complete procedures of selling State-ownedbuildings and illegally transferring land lots to Phan Van Anh Vu. Theseactions were “conducted repeatedly for many times in a long period”.

Vu is former chairman of themanagement board of the 79 Construction JSC, 79 North South Construction JSC,I.V.C Ltd Company and Nhat Gia Phuc Investment JSC.

The defendants colluded with Vuas leaders and officials of the city People’s Committee.

With the help of the two formerchairmen and other leading officials who signed and followed the orders, Vu wasable to acquire various State-owned buildings and land lots located in primelocations at a much lower price or without auction, according to theindictment.

Their actions caused losses ofmore than 22 trillion VND (947.5 million USD) to the State.

Prosecutors said dozens of haof land and dozens of State-owned buildings were acquired by the real estatemogul Vu, with 14 city officials involved.

The prosecutors said Vu tookadvantage of his close relationships with the city’s leaders to buy State-ownedhouses, causing “inequality in the local business community for a longconsecutive time”.

Besides Minh, Chien and Vu,jail terms of 7-16 years were suggested for four other defendants on the twocharges.

They are Nguyen Ngoc Tuan,former Vice Chairman of the Da Nang City People’s Committee; Phan Xuan It,former deputy chief of the office of the municipal People’s Committee; NguyenQuang Thanh, former Director of Minh Hung Phat Ltd Company; and Phan Minh Cuong,former Director of I.V.C Ltd Company and General Director of 79 ConstructionJSC.

The other defendants, includingformer officials of the Da Nang’s authorities and business managers, face jailterms of 2-10 years.

The procuracy proposedreturning the properties involved in the case to the State.

The procuracy also asked thejudge to assign the Da Nang City People’s Committee to revoke illegal housecontracts and contracts for switching the land rights of 11 State-ownedbuildings acquired by Vu.

Related defendants shouldcompensate losses caused to the State, the prosecutors said.

The trial will last untilJanuary 15./.