Hanoi (VNA) – The Investigation PoliceAgency under the Ministry of Public Security has begun criminal proceedings againstthe case of violating provisions on the management and use of State assets thatcauses losses and wastefulness, as well as a number of organisations andindividuals in Ho Chi Minh City related to Phan Van Anh Vu (alias Vu Nhom).

In their announcement made public on September 18, theministry said those individuals include Nguyen Huu Tin, born 1957, former ViceChairman of the Ho Chi Minh City’s People Committee; Dao Anh Kiet, born in1957, former Director of the city’s Department of Environment and NaturalResources; Le Van Thanh, born in 1962, Deputy Chief of Office at the municipalPeople’s Committee; and Nguyen Thanh Chuong, born in 1974, head of the unit forurban management at the office of the city’s People’s Committee.
The four are all residing in Ho Chi Minh City and nowbarred from going outside their places of residence while searches will beconducted at their places of residence and work.

On the same day, criminal proceedings were also startedfor four others who were accused of breach of regulations on land management,as stipulated in Article No.229, the 2015 Penal Code, after the agency expandedprobes into wrongdoings in projects related to Vu in the central city of DaNang.

Among them, Dao Tan Bang, born in 1975, and Nguyen VietVinh, born in 1978, were taken into custody by the police. Bang was formerDeputy Chief of Office at the Da Nang People’s Committee and now serves asParty Secretary of the city’s Industrial Parks; while Vinh was former head ofunit for urban management at the municipal People’s Committee and at now, directorof the city’s authority of inland port.

The other two are banned from leaving their places ofresidence, including Nguyen Van Can and Phan Xuan It, former Chief and Deputy Chiefof Office at the Da Nang People’s Committee, respectively. They both were bornin 1954.

The Supreme People's Procuracy issued approvals for theseprocedural decisions in accordance with the provisions of law.

Earlier, Vu, born in 1975 and residing in Hai Chaudistrict, Da Nang city, was charged with deliberately disclosing state secrets,tax evasion, abusing position and power while performing duties, and violatingregulations on management and use of State assets, causing loss andwastefulness.

On July 30, the Hanoi People’s Court sentenced Vu to nine years in prison for“deliberately disclosing state secrets” under Article 337 of the 2015 PenalCode.

A number of people have faced charges for their allegedinvolvement with Vu. –VNA