Traders are oppressed, causing difficulties in operations
According to the reflection of traders to Lao Dong Newspaper, Kinh Mon market was formed in 2010 by members contributing capital and registering a business household under the name of Mr. Pham Hung Duy. After a period of operation, on October 5, 2023, the members transferred all contributed capital to Mr. Truong Van Lap, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thap and Mr. Pham Hung Van; and elected a new Market Management Board according to the commitment in the agreement contract dated October 1, 2023.
At first, business at the market was stable, traders paid taxes, fees, and kiosk rental fees in full. However, since April 2024, after Mr. Pham Hung Van took over the management, many business households said that they were being oppressed, causing difficulties in operations. They were even required to close their stores when their lease contracts were still valid, while some other households were still allowed to open for sale.
Traders reported that the Market Management Board had cut off electricity and water, collected many unreasonable fees, caused financial pressure and extorted money from some households. In addition, there are also large gatherings, threats, prevents customers, and even destroys common property.
Mr. Do Khac Trung - a long-time trader at the market - said: "For more than a year, we have sent many calls for help to many places but have not been resolved. Business is hindered by the Management Board, directly affecting the lives of the people. All of their children's expenses, living expenses, and education depend on trading in the market."
According to Mr. Trung, in recent days, the Market Management Board has increased the number of security guards at the market gate, taking turns controlling the entry and exit and collecting money from people entering and leaving the market. This situation made the people upset and sent a petition for help to the government.
According to the investigation, on August 19, 2010, the People's Committee of Kinh Mon district, Hai Duong province (now Kinh Mon ward, Hai Phong city) issued Decision No. 323/QD-UBND on allowing Mr. Pham Hung Duy's household to change the land use purpose to build Kinh Mon market (phase 1) in Hiep An commune. From the capital mobilized by households themselves, including 10 shareholders, Mr. Pham Hung Duy was then the investor's representative and the market management board.
On October 5, 2023, after a period of exploitation, the members contributed capital to transfer all capital to Mr. Truong Van Lap, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thap, Mr. Pham Hung Van. The members elected a new market management board including Mr. Lap, Ms. Thap, and Mr. Van according to the Commitment Agreement signed on October 1, 2023.
On October 1, 2023, these three people signed a "Commitment Agreement". The content shows that Mr. Pham Hung Duy, due to financial difficulties and mounting debts, wished to transfer the "Kinh Mon Market Project, Hiep An Ward" to a shareholder in the project.
The three parties agreed to buy back all the capital of the old shareholders for 8.5 billion VND, assigning Mr. Pham Hung Van to do paperwork, while the management and exchange were agreed upon by Mr. Lap and Mr. Van. The contract clearly states: "The three of us are one, the legal authority is the same, the market belongs to shareholders, not to anyone".
According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Thap, after more than ten years of the market operating stably, Mr. Pham Hung Van has begun to obstruct and cause difficulties for traders such as surrounding kiosks and damaging property. In 2024, after the kiosks were built and renovated, kiosks were sold to traders for 100-400 million VND, some places up to billions of VND. Of the 78 kiosks, 48 kiosks have been settled, the rest will continue to be sold in the following half month.
"By April 2024, Mr. Van did not make the payment as committed, and hired strangers to threaten, prevent business, and even spread loudspeakers to defame and slander me, which was a scam" - Ms. Thap reflected.
Traders complain, authorities intervene
Talking to Lao Dong newspaper, Mr. Nguyen Bao Trung - Chairman of Kinh Mon Ward People's Committee - said that the people have sent the petition to the Hai Phong City Citizen Reception Committee and related agencies. After that, the Ward People's Committee issued a written response and specific instructions.
"Regarding the content of the rental contract dispute, the ward requested the trader to submit a petition to the court for settlement according to its authority. For the content showing signs of property appropriation, the ward instructed people to report to the police, and at the same time transfer the petition to the ward police for verification; if there were signs of violation, this agency would transfer the file to the Investigation Police Agency for handling according to regulations" - Mr. Trung said.
According to a representative of Kinh Mon Ward Police, recently, Kinh Mon Ward Police received reports from a number of traders doing business at the market, reflecting difficulties and problems arising during operations.
Immediately after receiving the information, the Ward Police urgently sent officers to the area to grasp the situation, verify, and fully record the reflection, ensuring objectivity, comprehensiveness, and correct order.
Kinh Mon Ward Police synchronously deploy professional measures, proactively grasp the security and order situation; promptly detect, prevent and strictly handle violations of the law, especially cases of taking advantage of social networks to post, broadcast live, share false information, distort, incite, and cause public panic.
At the same time, the ward police stepped up propaganda and mobilized traders to comply with legal regulations, coordinated with authorities to resolve the case, and recommended that people be vigilant, not allowing bad actors to take advantage, causing internal division.
