A VND 27 million small border dyke irrigation project in a poor commune in the central highlands province of Gia Lai was reported to have cost over VND 1 billion with local officials guilty of appropriating the difference.
Inspectors at Phu Thien District have recently uncovered substantial evidence of serious wrongdoings relating to finance management by former chairman of Ia Peng Commune, Nguyen Thanh Cuong.
Cuong, who is now deputy party secretary cum chairman of the neighbouring Ia Piar Commune, has been accused of appropriating VND 970 million (USD43,419) when carrying out a small dyke project in Ia Peng during 2013 and 2014 when he was head of this commune.
The dyke, which was only 20 centimetres wide and some hundred metres long, had 40% of its funding sourced from the district's budget, with the remainder funded by local residents.
The inspectors found out that the project cost only VND 27 million (USD 1,208) but the commune’s final account reported a total of VND 1.01 billion (USD 44,762).
Chairman of Phu Thien District's People Committee, Ro La Ni, has asked local police to prosecute and order Cuong to return all the appropriated money.
Meanwhile, Cuong told DTiNews on June 13 that he had submitted a resignation letter because he was so angry at the results from the inspectors.
"It was my fault for letting this happen but I didn't take the money," Cuong claimed. "My only mistake in this case was lack of responsibility because I did not supervise the project carefully."
Cuong explained that during that time his was not feeling well so he authorised the commune's vice chairman, Do Hong Son, to take over the work.
