Lam Dong Secretary Tran Duc Quan proposed to be expelled from the Party

The Politburo proposed that the Central Executive Committee expel from the Party Mr. Tran Duc Quan, 57 years old, Central Committee member, Provincial Party Secretary, Chairman of the People's Council of Lam Dong province.

The Secretariat also expelled Mr. Tran Van Hiep, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Secretary of the Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Committee of Lam Dong province, from the Party at the meeting on the morning of January 27. Both Mr. Quan and Mr. Hiep have been arrested.

The Politburo and the Secretariat concluded that Mr. Quan and Mr. Hiep had degraded in political ideology, morality, and lifestyle; violated Party regulations and State laws in performing assigned duties and tasks, violated regulations on what Party members are not allowed to do and the responsibility to set an example. The violations of the two men caused very serious consequences, angered public opinion, and had a very negative impact on the reputation of the Party organization and local government.

Mr. Quan is a member of the 13th Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council, and has worked in Lam Dong for many years. He has held positions such as Secretary of Da Huoai District, Permanent Deputy Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Inspection Committee, and Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda Department. Since 2020, he has held the position of Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee.

Provincial Party Secretary Tran Duc Quan. Photo: Ministry of Public Security — Provincial Party Secretary Tran Duc Quan. Photo: *Ministry of Public Security*

Three days ago, Mr. Tran Duc Quan was temporarily detained by the Ministry of Public Security's Investigation Police Agency (C03) to investigate the crime of " Abusing position while performing official duties". The authorities accused Mr. Quan of abusing his position and power to violate the provisions of the law when participating in directing the settlement of work related to the Dai Ninh project in Lam Dong province, causing very serious consequences.

Regarding this mega project, before Mr. Quan, the Department of Investigation Police on Corruption, Economic Crimes, and Smuggling (C03) arrested Mr. Tran Van Hiep, Chairman of Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee; Nguyen Ngoc Anh, Chief Inspector of Lam Dong Province on charges of Receiving bribes. Ms. Tran Bich Ngoc, Director of the Department of Monitoring Inspection, Handling of Complaints and Denunciations, Prevention and Combat of Corruption, Smuggling, Commercial Fraud and Counterfeit Goods (Department I) of the Government Office, was prosecuted on charges of Abusing Position and Power while Performing Official Duty.

Initial investigation results show that Ms. Ngoc took advantage of her position to violate her assigned duties and responsibilities in handling inspections and complaints about the project, causing damage to the state. In mid-2020, when announcing the results of the inspection of land management, use and construction investment in Lam Dong province, the Government Inspectorate recommended terminating operations and reclaiming land of 3 projects that violated the law on land and investment, including the project of Saigon - Dai Ninh Tourism Investment Joint Stock Company.

The Dai Ninh Urban Commercial, Tourism and Ecological Resort Project has a scale of over 3,595 hectares, of which the forest lease area is 1,050 hectares with a total investment capital of VND 25,243 billion. The expected implementation period is from 2010 to 2018. Up to now, the project has only built a few temporary structures and allowed the forest to be destroyed and encroached on hundreds of hectares.

In the case that occurred at Van Thinh Phat Group, this project was also mentioned. In 2020, Capella Group Chairman Nguyen Cao Tri spent VND 2,230 billion to own 58% of the charter capital of Saigon Dai Ninh Company. Then, Mr. Tri agreed to sell 100% of the capital he owned to Ms. Lan for VND 3,000 billion. Ms. Lan then transferred deposits to Tri 5 times with a total of 20 million USD (about VND 460 billion) and VND 127 billion. When Ms. Lan was arrested, Mr. Tri had appropriated from Ms. Lan 40 million USD (equivalent to VND 1,000 billion) including the amount in this project and two other projects.

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