Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security arrested Phan Van Anh Vu

In the afternoon of January 4, aviation security entering the immigration area of Noi Bai International Airport for the arrest

Extradition from Singapore

MoPS announced having taken defendant Phan Van Anh Vu into custody after he was deported from Singapore. A Vietnamese airline confirmed a passenger named Phan Van Anh Vu (born on November 2, 1975) on the flight from Singapore to Noi Bai International Airport at 3.37 PM today. At the time of his arrival, aviation security personnel and cars were waiting for him at the immigration area and outside the airport.

On January 2, 2018, Immigration and Checkpoints Authority of Singapore announced that Phan Van Anh Vu was arrested on December 28, 2017 for committing offences under the Immigration Act.

According to the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Agreement signed in November 2004 between Vietnam, Singapore, and six ASEAN members, member states "must provide each other with the widest possible judicial assistance in investigation, prosecution, and subsequent proceedings."

MoPS released the arrest warrant on December 21, 2017 because Vu was absent from his house at 82 Tran Quoc Toan Street, Hai Chau 1 Ward, Hai Chau District, Danang since December 20, 2017. He was accused of deliberately committing an offense according to Article 263 of the Penal Code (1999).

Phan Van Anh Vu

A deliberate offense

Phan Van Anh Vu is chairman of Bac Nam 79 Construction JSC former chairman of Nova Bac Nam 79 JSC (now Chan Phong Development and Investment JSC).

He has been known as the owner of many land plots in prime locations in Danang, most of which used to be public land.

In the middle of 2017, it was said that some projects in Danang showed signs of violations, including the sale of houses in public ownership.

MoPS requested the leaders of Danang to provide documents related to nine projects selling or renting out 31 such houses in the central city.

The nine projects include An Don Park (2010), Harbour Ville managed by Mega Investment Company (2008), Phu Gia Compoud in Thanh Khe District (2007), a café, bar, and restaurant tourism and marina area in front of Vietnam Television Broadcasting in Danang (2015), Da Phuoc international urban area (based on 181 hectares, 2008), No. 12-B4.1 in the An Cu residential area expansion in Son Tra District (2009), Ecopark Phu Gia Riverside in Cam Le District (2010), and a coastal tourism area at Truong Sa Street in Ngu Hanh Son dDstrict (2007).

Of these projects, five were related to Vu “Nhom.”

Before prosecuted, he had divested of the companies under his ownership. As stated in the registration certificate of Bac Nam 79 Construction JSC revised on April 26, 2017, Phan Van Anh Vu divested VND650 billion ($28.6 million), equivalent to 92.86 per cent of the company’s charter capital.

According to the registration certificate of Phu Gia Compound revised on April 7, 2017, Phan Van Anh Vu divested a total VND40 billion ($1.8 million), equaling 80 per cent of the company’s charter capital.

He only owns 12.75 per cent of Dong A Bank’s charter capital, equivalent to VND637 billion ($28 million).

The case is being investigated by MoPS.