More arrests in illegal destruction of residential home in Hanoi

    Hanoi police arrested a man in Hai Ba Trung district Thursday for his involvement with a lieutenant colonel who organized the illegal demolition of a residential home in June. 

Nguyen Vinh Thanh, 31, was charged with destroying the house of Nguyen Thi Thanh Binh in Trung Phung ward of Dong Da District in May. He was joined by dozens of men for the job. 

They were all hired by lieutenant colonel Duong Thi Binh Thuy, who had served 20 years as criminal policewoman in Hanoi, under a VND150 million (US$9,400) contract. Thuy was arrested in July. 

According to police, the house [destroyed May 23] was owned by Nguyen Thi Thanh Binh, neighbor of two siblings, Tran Viet Son, director of Viet Huy Garment Company, and Tran Thi Mai Phuong, who works at a branch of Vietnam News Agency in Hanoi. 

The two siblings "placed the order" for the destruction after personal disputes with the neighbor Binh. 

After the case was brought to Hanoi police, Thuy told the two siblings to stay silent about their involvement, assuring them she would provide protection. 

However, the siblings came clean to police, admitting they had ordered the house to be demolished, after being promised protection from Thuy. 

(Thanh Nien News, September 7, 2006)