Four individuals have been prosecuted for fabricating compensation and resettlement documents for the Chi Khê Hydropower Project.

On August 17th, the People's Procuratorate of Nghe An province approved the aforementioned decisions to prosecute the defendants issued by the Investigation Police Department of Nghe An province.

Previously, on June 14, 2020, the Investigation Police Department of Nghe An province issued a decision to initiate a criminal case and prosecute Le Anh Duc (born in 1982), residing in Ky Anh town, Ha Tinh province, an employee of Chi Khe Hydropower Joint Stock Company, for the act of "Abusing position and power while performing official duties" occurring at the Compensation, Support and Resettlement Council of the low-head hydropower project in Chi Khe commune, Con Cuong district.

The Investigation Police Department of Nghe An province served the decisions to initiate criminal proceedings and indict Le Anh Duc. Photo: Duc Vu.

Expanding the investigation, the Criminal Investigation Agency of Nghe An province has prosecuted four defendants: Tran Van Hung (born in 1965), Nguyen Thi Hoai (born in 1974), Tu Van Minh (born in 1954), and Nguyen Hong Phong (born in 1969), all residing in Chau Khe commune, Con Cuong district, and formerly officials of village 2/9.

During the initial investigation, the Economic Police Department of Nghe An Provincial Police has proven and clarified that the Chi Khe Hydropower Project, invested by Chi Khe Hydropower Joint Stock Company, was granted an investment certificate by the People's Committee of Nghe An Province on April 5, 2010, with the construction site located on the Ca River in Chi Khe commune, Con Cuong district.

To implement the Chi Khe Hydropower Project, the People's Committee of Con Cuong District established the Compensation, Support, and Resettlement Council for the Chi Khe Low Head Hydropower Project in Con Cuong District (hereinafter referred to as the Compensation Council). Le Anh Duc, an employee of Chi Khe Hydropower Joint Stock Company, was appointed to the Compensation Council on April 16, 2014. On April 22, 2014, the People's Committee of Con Cuong District decided that Le Anh Duc would be a member of the support team for the Compensation Council.

Four defendants, formerly officials of village 2/9, have been prosecuted for abusing their positions and authority while performing their official duties. (Photo: Duc Vu)

From April 2014, the Compensation Council began developing a plan for property compensation. Around August 2014, Le Anh Duc and the Compensation Council's support team compiled documents and inventoried assets in Hamlet 2/9, Chau Khe Commune, Con Cuong District. During this process, Le Anh Duc conspired with Mr. Tran Van Hung, Mr. Tu Van Minh, Mr. Nguyen Hong Phong, and Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoai to create numerous fraudulent compensation files and falsely declare additional trees on land plots managed by the Hamlet Management Board that had been leased to households in order to receive compensation money.

On June 24, 2015, Chi Khe Hydropower Joint Stock Company announced the payment of compensation to individuals and organizations, including those with fraudulent compensation files mentioned above, causing hundreds of millions of dong in losses. This money was divided among Le Anh Duc and four former officials of Hamlet 2/9, Chau Khe Commune: Tran Van Hung, Nguyen Thi Hoai, Tu Van Minh, and Nguyen Hong Phong.

During the investigation, the Criminal Investigation Agency of Nghe An Provincial Police recovered all the money that the suspects had profited from the fraudulent documents. Currently, the case is still under investigation and resolution by the Criminal Investigation Agency of Nghe An Provincial Police.