VietNamNet Bridge – The director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the southern province of Vinh Long has been suspended for his involvement in embezzling billions dong from the construction of cultural works in the province.

Mr. Nguyen Hoang Hoc, Chairman of the Vinh Long People’s Committee Office, told VietNamNet that the local government decided to suspend Mr. Nguyen To Tranh from the position of Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism on October 1.


Pham Tien Ngo (left) and Bui Huu Tri.

 
According to the local authorities, with responsibility as the head of the agency, Mr. Tranh is cooperating with the investigation body to clarify the case of bribe and embezzlement of state assets at the Vinh Long Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The police arrested the department’s 33-year-old chief accountant, Tran Le Dong, for "embezzlement" and construction expert Bui Huu Tri, 33, for "taking bribes".

Also related to this case, Pham Tien Ngo, 50, director of the Thanh Tien private enterprise in Binh Minh District, Vinh Long was arrested for "giving bribes".

Ngo testified that as a bidding winner, he many times gave 10 percent of contract value of the projects invested by the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Meanwhile, Tri declared that he shared the bribe money to his boss, Mr. Tranh.

The case is being investigated.
 
Quoc Huy