Life sentence upheld for former leader of Housing Group

Châu Thị Thu Nga at the High-Level People’s Court in Hà Nội. — Photo vnexpress.net

HÀ NỘI — The High-Level People’s Court in Hà Nội has maintained the life sentence given to Châu Thị Thu Nga, former National Assembly deputy and former chairwoman and general director of the Land and Housing Construction and Investment JSC (Housing Group), for swindling to appropriate assets of the B 五 Cầu Diễn housing project. 

At an appeal trial in Hà Nội on April  一 六, Nga and Housing Group were also ordered to refund more than VNĐ 二 四0 billion (US$ 一0. 五 million) to clients. Nga alone has to compensate more than VNĐ 五 四 billion ($ 二. 三 million). The court ruled no agencies had assigned Housing Group and HAIC Company as investors of the project. The adjusted planning of the project had not been approved and its construction had yet been licensed. Housing Group had not been permitted to take money in advance from those who wanted to buy apartments in the project. However, Nga still instructed her eight subordinates to publicise false information about the legal situation and progress of the project, make a model of the project and plant poles at the site. The court reduced punishment for some of Nga’s accomplices. — VNS