A village head in Mentougou district, who alleged its land was expropriated by the township government in 2007, told the Global Times Wednesday that none of the compensation could be found in the village's financial accounts.
According to the compensation contract signed between the Zhaitang township government and the ex-head of Sangyu village, the township should pay the village about 1 million yuan ($160,300) for the 3.65 hectares of land, but the present village head, Zhang Kechen, has said he can find no record of this cash.
"I realized when I checked the village's financial status to prepare for the village meeting this year," said Zhang.
Zhang alleged there was impropriety between the township and the ex-village head.
"He [the ex-head] sold our land secretly with a stroke of his pen. I feel outraged," he said.
The village had previously signed an agreement with a four-star hotel to use the land in 2006, and the village still receives rental income from the tourist resort, said Zhang.
Yang Weijian, the ex-village head, said he does not know where the money went.
"I wasn't in charge of financial accounts then. I don't know where the money went," Yang said.
Lawyer Wang Cailiang, an expert in property cases, said the township government has no right to expropriate the land.
"Any expropriation of village land should be approved by the municipal government, and carried out by the district land and resources bureau. The city's finance bureau should award compensation," he said.
Zhaitang township government could not be reached.
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