Investigative police in northern Hai Phong port city have decided totake legal proceeding against the former chairman of Tien Langdistrict’s People’s Committee, Le Van Hien, for his alleged misconductin an unlawful land seizure in his locality in 2012.

A policespokesman, Pham Duy Dien, said investigations will centre on an allegedlack of responsibility that caused serious consequences, as set down inArticle 285 of the Penal Code.

Currently, Hien has beenforbidden to leave his residence. He was removed from his post inFebruary, one month after the local authorities carried out the forciblerevocation of 19.3ha of aquaculture land operated by Doan Van Vuon, 49.

The land was alleged at the time to have passed the expiry date for its lease from the Government.
 
At the time the case happened, Hien acted as deputy secretary of thedistrict’s Party Committee and chairman of the district’s People’sCommittee.

On January 5, 2012, farmer Vuon opposed the landrevocation and injured five people, including policemen, by usingself-made mines and shotguns to protect his property.

The casequickly grew into a public outcry by farmers against land seizures. Italso brought Hien’s subordinates, including former deputy chairman ofthe district’s People’s Committee, Nguyen Van Khanh, and former head ofthe district’s natural resources and environment division, Pham XuanHoa, to be prosecuted for alleged “property destruction”.

OnDecember 28, the city’s police proposed to bring farmer Vuon and fiveothers of his family members to court for murderous conduct andconfronting people on duty.

The trial is expected to be held before traditional Tet (Lunar New Year), which falls on February 10.-VNA