Life sentence upheld for former leader of Housing Group

The High-Level People’s Court in Hanoi 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 at the B5 Cầu Diễn housing project. 

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 B5 Cầu Diễn housing project. 

At an appeal trial in Hà Nội on April 16, Nga and Housing Group were also ordered to refund more than VNĐ240 billion (US$10.5 million) to clients. Nga alone has to compensate more than VNĐ54 billion ($2.3 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