On the afternoon of September 18, in Bao Lam 1 commune (Lam Dong province), the People's Court of Region 4 - Lam Dong opened a first-instance trial of the criminal case against defendant Phan Trong Cuong (45 years old, residing in Ward 1 Bao Loc, Lam Dong) for the crime of "Disturbing public order".
According to the indictment, Phan Trong Cuong is using more than 10 hectares of land in village 7, old Loc Ngai commune, (now in Bao Lam 1 commune, Lam Dong). The entire area is forestry land, encroached and has no legal documents proving its origin. Of which, about 1.6 hectares of forest land, the remaining encroached area has been assigned by Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee to Vinh Tien Company Limited and Vinh Loc Company Limited.
Regarding the land area of Vinh Loc and Vinh Tien companies, Bao Lam District People's Committee has issued decisions to reclaim to implement the bauxite ore mining project, period 2020 - 2024. Because this land is leased by the State, the compensation plan is 0 VND. Vinh Tien and Vinh Loc Companies have handed over the site to Lam Dong aluminum One Member Co., Ltd.
On July 2, 2024, July 10, 2024 and November 1, 2024, Phan Trong Cuong repeatedly prevented Lam Dong aluminum One Member Co., Ltd. from reclaiming land for bauxite mining. This action is aimed at requesting support for compensation for illegal crops on forestry land that has been recovered by the State and assigned to Lam Dong aluminum Company.
On December 26, 2024, when Lam Dong aluminum Company was leveling the ground, with the police force and many other forces participating in ensuring security and order, Phan Trong Cuong took a knife to prevent, threaten, and chase and beat Mr. Nguyen Huu Cau, Tran Quyet Tien, and Doan Van Tuan. Mr. Cau and Tien are workers of Lam Dong aluminum Company, while Mr. Tuan is an employee of Hung Quang Company (the mining contractor).
The incident caused these workers to panic, run away, fall and disrupt the company's project implementation. When the authorities opened fire to suppress the situation, Cuong ran away and threw the knife in the coffee garden.
After that, the investigation agency summoned Phan Trong Cuong to work to serve the investigation. Through the investigation, Cuong confessed to the above behavior and realized that Cuong's behavior was a violation of the law.
The purpose of Cuong's chase with a knife was to stop the leveling of the site by having people and vehicles of Lam Dong aluminum Company. At the same time, the company had to send people to talk about supporting compensation for crops on the land for it.
At the trial, defendant Phan Trong Cuong bowed his head and admitted all of his crimes.
Considering that the defendant's actions violated criminal law, violated public safety, violated rules, and activities in public places, and caused disorder in the locality, the Trial Council sentenced defendant Phan Trong Cuong to 2 years in prison.
