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Jul 30, 2018 / 23:00

Vietnam property tycoon sentenced to nine years in jail

A number of state properties were sold to Phan Van Anh Vu, known as Vu "nhom" (aluminum) at below market prices.

Phan Van Anh Vu, 43, a property magnate in Da Nang, was sentenced to nine years in prison on Monday after being accused of revealing state secrets deliberately, local media reported. 
 
Phan Van Anh Vu or Vu Nhom. Source: VNA.
In addition to Vu, former police Lieutenant General Phan Huu Tuan, former deputy head of the general department of intelligent service, was sentenced to seven years in prison for a similar charge, and Nguyen Huu Bach, former official of the Ministry of Public Security, to six years behind bars. 

Vu, one of the biggest real estate tycoons in Da Nang, fled to Singapore shortly before the Ministry of Public Security issued an arrest warrant for him last December. He was arrested in January after being deported from Singapore for using a false identity and fake passports. 

In a separate case, the police are also investigating nearly three dozen properties in Da Nang and some other provinces related to Vu. The properties had previously belonged to the state and were reportedly sold to Vu at below market prices.

On July 28, the Politburo, the highest body of the Communist Party of Vietnam requested the government to demote Lieutenant General Bui Van Thanh, vice minister of public security, for his wrongdoings and violations in relation to Vu's case.  

According to the Politburo, Thanh allowed Vu to join delegations' visits to foreign countries and granted him a diplomatic passport against the law.