Following the case in which a Party secretary of a commune in Ninh Binh Province was found using two luxurious cars, another case has been brought to light: the leader of VMS-South is using a Mercedes S300 car worth US$202,000.

A Mercedes S300 (for illustration only), Photo: Internet

The car user is Pham Dinh Van, general director and chairman of the Board of Members of Southern Vietnam Maritime Safety Corporation, a 100 percent State-owned business based in Vung Tau City that specializes in maritime services for the common good, under the management of the Transport Ministry.

As shown in its file the car, which is black, was registered at Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province on July 4, 2011 in the name of VMS-South and was granted number plate 72A-010.06.

As indicated in the invoice issued in June 2011 by the Hang Xanh Automobile Service Joint Stock Company, the car’s value is VND4,206,480,000 (nearly $202,000), including VAT. 
The car was manufactured in 2011 and was brand-new at the time of purchase.

Talking with Tuoi Tre yesterday about the car, Van said, “The car was bought with a financial source that is not from the State budget and thus I think such a purchase is not a problem.”

The car has been used for the company’s operations and it helps staff feel more confident when using the car to travel to partners for signing contracts. “Our company usually deals with large and wealthy companies, so we have tried to acquire an appropriate car.”

Van admitted that “according to current standards, VMS-South is not eligible to purchase such an expensive car” and said, “If the purchase is considered inappropriate, we will sell it to recover our capital.”

Under a decision by the Prime Minister and relevant regulations, State officials at a number of levels, including the level of chairpersons of boards or members of a company under a ministry – as in Van’s case - can use a car valued at a maximum of only VND720 million ($34,500) for business trips.

The two deluxe cars used by Cao Van The, Party secretary of Binh Ninh Commune in Tien Giang Province (Photo: Tuoi Tre)

Party secretary to be disciplined

In related news, police in Cho Gao District, Tien Giang Province have completed their investigation of the two deluxe cars – a Toyota RAV4 and a Lexus – used by Cao Van The,  secretary of Binh Ninh Commune Party Committee.

Van Ba Mai, the district’s police chief, confirmed that the cars are owned by a Cambodian man named Len.

Len and another man, Nguyen Van Ngot, had given the cars to The as partial payment of a VND1.6 billion (US$77,000) debt that they have owed him since 2009 when they purchased pigs from him, the official said. 

Since the case is related to a foreigner, the district police have referred the case to the Tien Giang Province Police for further investigation, Mai said.

The told Tuoi Tre that he uses the cars to go to work and to some hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City for treatment. However, to many people’s surprise, his driver is Nguyen Tan Thach, a police chief of another district in the province.

After investigating The’s activities related to the use of the cars, the provincial Party Committee’s Commission for Inspection confirmed that The has committed some wrongdoings.

He has gone abroad without reporting to the Party Committee, has been dishonest in declaration of his assets, and violated regulations of virtue and lifestyle applicable to a Party member, the commission said.

The Party Committee will take steps to issue disciplinary action against The for his wrongdoings within the month, the commission added.

Source: Tuoi Tre