Dong Nai Official Arrested Over Land Acquisition Irregularities

Le Van Tiep, the Chairman of the Long Thanh District People’s Committee in Dong Nai Province, has been arrested due to his suspected involvement in unlawful activities concerning land acquisition, compensation, and resettlement linked to the Long Thanh International Airport project.

The Dong Nai Provincial People’s Procuracy sanctioned the prosecution and temporary detention of Tiep for breaching laws related to land compensation and resettlement processes carried out by the government.

Law enforcement officials executed the arrest at Tiep’s home in Van Hai, Long Thanh Town, on the evening of February 7.

This action is part of a larger inquiry focused on corruption surrounding the compensation and resettlement linked to the Long Thanh Airport project, which has an over 22 trillion VND (approximately $890 million) budget. The project was authorized by the Prime Minister in 2018 and entails clearing 5,000 hectares for airport development and an additional 364 hectares for two resettlement zones.

Previous Arrests in the Ongoing Investigation

This investigation has already seen multiple arrests. Notably, in November 2024, three officials were taken into custody, including:

• Pham Viet Manh, associated with the Long Thanh Land Development Center, on charges of accepting bribes.
• Nguyen Tan Bien, a land management officer in Loc An Commune, alongside Tran Ngoc Han, for fraud and misappropriation of assets.

On December 4, 2024, investigators searched the Long Thanh District Cultural and Sports Center, which holds vital records related to the land acquisition, compensation, and resettlement processes for the airport project.

Authorities have stated that the investigation is ongoing, and further legal actions are anticipated.