Vietnam’s military court sentences former defense minister to 4 years in prison over land scandal

• Khat Leakhena
• 22 May 2020
• International News
• 3121 Views

Vietnam’s military court on Thursday sentenced a former deputy defense minister to four years in prison for illegally transferring three land plots in Ho Chi Minh City from the navy to a private investor, according to a press release published on e.vnexpress.net on 21 May 2020.

The Vietnam state media reported that Vietnam’s Navy Admiral Nguyen Van Hien, 65, was found guilty of a lack of responsibility that resulted in the transfer of 7,300 square metres of land in Ho Chi Minh City for 45-49 years for an office building.

“Hein’s actions mean that the navy has lost land use for 49 years. This cost the Vietnamese government nearly 940 billion dong (US$ 40 million), according to the Ministry of Public Security.

The military court also sentenced four other military officers to four to nine years in prison in connection with the case.

According to the Ministry of Public Security, Hain served as Deputy Minister of Defense from 2009 to 2016. He was stripped of his party’s credentials in April.