Lao Cai tries to calm land auction corruption claims
>> Concerns over Lao Cai potential corrupt land grab 
A representative from Lao Cai authorities has claimed that the auction for a plot of land now coincidentally owned by top local officials was carried out legally.
Public skepticism grew when the winners all turned out to be senior provincial officials. To date, six large houses have been built on this 2,700-square metre land plot, covering between 400-600 square metres each.
According to Vuong Trinh Quoc, chief office manager of the provincial people’s committee, the plot was previously a river bed which was then filled.
In 2014, the plot was auctioned along with 38 other local plots under the province’s Decision 52/2013/QDUB at VND9.5-10.5 million (USD431-USD454) per square metre. These prices were based on people’s council levels.
The auction in 2014 saw the participation of five people. The remaining lot was auctioned in 2015 at a higher price of VND15 million (USD681) per square metre, Quoc said, claiming that the auction was totally lawful.
Pham Trong Dat, Director General of the Government Inspectorate's Anti-corruption Bureau, said an inspection should be conducted on the case to answer the public’s questions why the auction winners were all senior officials as well as whether the auction prices were realistic market valuations.
Le Thanh Dung, head of Kim Tan Ward where the land plot is located, said that the six houses were owned by Lao Cai Province’s party secretary, director of the Police Department, head of People's Procuracy, Sapa District’s party secretary, director of Department of Finance and an official from border police force.
Public skepticism grew when the winners all turned out to be senior provincial officials. To date, six large houses have been built on this 2,700-square metre land plot, covering between 400-600 square metres each.
Six large houses have been built on this 2,700-square metre land plot, covering between 400-600 square metres each
According to Vuong Trinh Quoc, chief office manager of the provincial people’s committee, the plot was previously a river bed which was then filled.
In 2014, the plot was auctioned along with 38 other local plots under the province’s Decision 52/2013/QDUB at VND9.5-10.5 million (USD431-USD454) per square metre. These prices were based on people’s council levels.
The auction in 2014 saw the participation of five people. The remaining lot was auctioned in 2015 at a higher price of VND15 million (USD681) per square metre, Quoc said, claiming that the auction was totally lawful.
Pham Trong Dat, Director General of the Government Inspectorate's Anti-corruption Bureau, said an inspection should be conducted on the case to answer the public’s questions why the auction winners were all senior officials as well as whether the auction prices were realistic market valuations.
Le Thanh Dung, head of Kim Tan Ward where the land plot is located, said that the six houses were owned by Lao Cai Province’s party secretary, director of the Police Department, head of People's Procuracy, Sapa District’s party secretary, director of Department of Finance and an official from border police force.
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