A former district chairman in Vietnam’s Central Highlands is being inspected for his ownership of several properties including a costly villa.

Authorities in Dak Lak Province are carrying out an investigation into the assets of Tran Ngoc Quang, ex-chairman of the People’s Committee in the province’s Ea Sup District.

Quang’s villa, completed just a few years ago, is located in the Ea Bung neighborhood where the wood-adorned buildings dot the complex, safeguarded by a high brick wall.

A VND900 million ($US39,633) road stretches 500 meters to connect the residence with the provincial highway No. 1 while the surrounding remain pockmarked with dirt-filled potholes.

The road was originally part of a project developed by the Ea Bung administration aimed at upgrading the commune’s transport infrastructure. 

Capital for the project, however, was nearly depleted following the renovation to the section leading from Quant’s villa, according to a Dak Lak official.

The road in front of the villa is properly built. Photo: Tuoi Tre

The plan is expected to continue once there is sufficient finance.

The land on which Quang had his villa built was previously zoned for agricultural purposes before the former chairman was approved to change the purpose of the land and pay the required tax for using the property.

Quang also owns a two-story house near Ea Sup Market, a filling station, and multiple land plots across the locality.

Records showed that the filling station is operated by the former chairman’s family on plot previously rented for a 50-year period, while the other pieces of land were inherited from his parents.

The two-story house near Ea Sup Market. Photo: Tuoi Tre

During an interview, Quang admitted he owns each of the properties involve din the investigation, whose total value is estimated at billions of dong (VND1 billion = $44,037).

The ex-chairman asserted he holds the necessary documents to prove his legitimate ownership of the properties.

“There is no reason for local media to be concerned with my assets,” he stated.

Investigations into the holdings of serving and former local officials is nothing new.

The filling station operated by Quang’s family. Photo: Tuoi Tre

In December 2017, Pham Sy Quy, former director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment in the northern province of Yen Bai, was fined over $24,000 for construction violations and late tax payment.

Quy was also stripped of his post in October as a punishment for his failure to fully declare his assets in October.

The penalties came after his 1.3 hectare villa complex was exposed by local media in June.

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