Over 1,400 property deeds, 500 gold bars seized in Nha Trang land embezzlement case

The deeds belong to various individuals and organizations, and the gold to Nguyen Van Hau, chairman of property developer Phuc Son, who has been charged with fraudulent appropriation of assets, according to the Central Military Procuracy.

Prosecutors also ordered the seizing of 33 gold bars from his sister Nguyen Thi Hang, the CEO of the company, who faces similar charges.

They allegedly colluded with government officials to illegally sell nearly 63 hectares of land designated for defense purposes.

The embezzled land lots in Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province. Photo by VnExpress/Bui Toan

Between 2016 and 2024 Son sold the lands to 683 buyers for VND7 trillion (US$266 million) despite knowing they were not approved for housing, prosecutors alleged.

No plans or construction or selling permits had been approved, but he directed his employees to promote the lands as having legal permits.

He received help from a number of officials from Khanh Hoa Province and the Ministry of Defense, who handed over the land to him without a bidding process.

Nguyen Van Hau, former chairman of Phuc Son, shows up at court in June 2025. Photo by VnExpress/Danh Lam

They include Nguyen Chien Thang and Le Duc Vinh, both former chairmen of Khanh Hoa Province, and Dao Cong Thien, a former deputy chairman.

The other accused include Nguyen Duy Cuong, former principal of the Air Force Officer School and Hoang Viet Quang, former deputy director of the operations department of the defense ministry.

All are charged with violating regulations on land management.