When honor is "pierced" by money.

On January 6th, the Military Court of Military Region 5 opened a criminal trial to continue the case of "Violation of regulations on land management" and "Fraudulent appropriation of property." Among the nine defendants are two former Major Generals of the army: Hoang Viet Quang, former Deputy Director of Operations; and Nguyen Duy Cuong, former Principal of the Air Force Officer School.

Overview of the preliminary trial of the land violation case in Khanh Hoa .

Indictment No. 578/CT-VKS-P1 dated September 28, 2025, of the Central Military Procuracy concluded: “During the period from 2015-2024, defendants Nguyen Chien Thang, Le Duc Vinh, Dao Cong Thien, Vo Tan Thai of the People's Committee of Khanh Hoa province and defendants Hoang Viet Quang, Nguyen Duy Cuong of agencies within the Ministry of National Defense violated regulations on land management when the Government, the Central Military Commission, and the Ministry of National Defense had agreed to change the land use purpose at Nha Trang airport from national defense land to local economic and social development, but the Prime Minister had not yet approved the plan for arranging and handling the land and buildings.”

The transfer of approximately 186.2 hectares of national defense land at Nha Trang airport to the People's Committee of Khanh Hoa province must be carried out in accordance with the Prime Minister 's directive in Document 5740/VCP-KTN dated July 30, 2014, which has been agreed upon by the Ministry of National Defense and the People's Committee of Khanh Hoa province.

The representative of the prosecutor's office at the trial.

In strict compliance with the Prime Minister's directives, Decision 69/2014/QD-TTg dated December 10, 2014, on the management of funds collected from the rearrangement of land and buildings under the Ministry of National Defense; and the allocation of land to provide payment to investors implementing the BT project for Phan Thiet airport and the temporary barracks infrastructure of Regiment 920 in Cam Ranh, the People's Committee of Khanh Hoa province is responsible for coordinating with the Ministry of National Defense to report to the Government on the management and use of the land fund in accordance with the law (Conclusion No. 5009/KL-BCĐ dated June 16, 2015).

However, during the process, the defendants violated the procedures stipulated by law, disregarded the directives of the Prime Minister, and failed to reach a consensus between the Ministry of National Defense and the People's Committee of Khanh Hoa province. They illegally transferred 62.89 hectares of national defense land to Phuc Son Company, causing damage to the State in the management and use of national defense land. The aforementioned actions of defendants Nguyen Chien Thang, Le Duc Vinh, Dao Cong Thien, Vo Tan Thai, Hoang Viet Quang, and Nguyen Duy Cuong constitute the crime of "Violating regulations on land management" as stipulated in point a, clause 3, Article 229 of the Penal Code.

The lawyers at the trial.

The Procuratorate assessed that violations in the management of public assets are becoming increasingly sophisticated, audacious, and blatant, showing disregard for the law and causing very serious, even extremely serious, consequences. The public trial of the case by the Military Court of Military Region 5 aims not only to severely punish the violations but also to educate, prevent, and raise awareness of compliance with the law.

The defendants' misconduct was particularly serious, damaging the reputation of the relevant organizations, negatively impacting the local investment environment and socio-economic development, causing resentment and indignation, and significantly affecting public trust.

The defendants were high-ranking officials at the local level, responsible for providing crucial strategic advice to agencies of the Ministry of National Defense and local authorities, but they failed to fulfill their duties. The defendants were fully aware, and should have been aware, but deliberately acted in their roles, allowing the situation to unfold, leading to the improper recovery and handover of land to Phuc Son Company.

The Procuratorate believes that through this trial, every citizen and soldier should always cultivate moral conduct and lifestyle, abide by the law and military discipline. Heads of units responsible for managing and using state assets, especially national defense land, need to thoroughly understand management regulations and perform their duties correctly and completely.

Before the investigating agency, both former brigadier generals claimed that they were trained as commanders but lacked full knowledge of land law, thus committing the crime. Former brigadier general Hoang Viet Quang admitted to receiving gifts worth billions of dong from the owner of Phuc Son Company and voluntarily returned 4 billion dong.

The trial left much to ponder, not only about the law but, more profoundly, about public service ethics, the responsibility of setting a good example, and the dangerous allure of money.

Generals must remember President Ho Chi Minh's teachings at the Fifth Military Conference, held in August 1948: "In the army, the duty of a general is: to be intelligent, courageous, humane, trustworthy, honest, and loyal." Among these, "Integrity means not being greedy for wealth, not being greedy for women (greed for women often leads to being seduced), not being greedy for fame or for life. Loyalty means absolute loyalty to the Fatherland, to the people, to the revolution, and to the Party."

The rank of general is not just a military rank. It is a symbol of honor and the trust placed in them by the Party, the State, the Army, and the people. Therefore, when those who once held that position stand before the court, the anguish lies not only in the sentence, but in the question: What led them down such a path?

Without strict discipline and strong moral character, the pursuit of money and power easily becomes fertile ground for self-serving behavior. Most frightening is the growing acceptance of wrongdoing, viewing it as normal. When money comes easily and regularly, disguised as "connections," "thanks," or "support," the lines between right and wrong, gifts and bribes, loyalty and self-interest become blurred.

The downfall of a former general is not just a personal tragedy. It damages the trust of officers and soldiers. It also forces society to confront a reality: No one is immune to temptation if they lack self-discipline and effective oversight mechanisms.

The trial serves as a lesson for everyone currently in or about to be in power to reflect upon. Reflect on ethics, conscience, responsibility, and leadership capabilities. Because honor—once tainted by money—can never be mended.

NINH CO

Source: https://nhandan.vn/khi-danh-du-bi-tien-bac-dam-thung-post935499.html