Two top VFF officials did not take bribes, says department

VietNamNet Bridge – The General Department of Sports and Physical Training, commenting on the scandal related to the Chair and Vice Chair of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), said that top VFF officials did not take bribes.

The two top VFF officials, Chairman Le Hung Dung and Vice Chairman Tran Quoc Tuan, were accused by a subordinate of taking bribes from him, only a few days after he was laid off in a major downsizing.

Nguyen Van Chuong, the former director of VFF’s Young Football Players Training Center, was dismissed along with other employees on June 1 under a layoff plan.

After that, Chuong revealed that Dung and Tuan had taken VND100 million (US$4,587) each from him.

Chuong said as soon as he heard about the layoff plan, he asked to meet the two officials to offer them the bribes, but he still ended up being fired.

In his complaint sent to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the General Department of Sports and Physical Training local press agencies, Chuong said he gave Tuan VND100 million on July 15, 2014, but in May this year Tuan gave him back the money, saying he could not help.

Chuong said he met Dung at the latter’s house, giving him VND100 million and other gifts on August 28, 2014. He told the media he hired a lawyer to represent him and was ready to provide evidence to support his accusation.

Meanwhile, Dung denied taking any bribe. He said Chuong accompanied Tran Duy Long, former chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Football Federation, to his house on August 28, 2014 after he returned from Singapore for medical treatment.

He said he did not expect to see Chuong at his house. Chuong gave him a clock as a gift, but he refused to take it. Chuong tried to leave the clock at his house and left. He said there was no money involved. He said he would also hire a lawyer to represent him.

Talking to the press, a leader of the General Department of Sports and Physical Training said VFF Vice Chairman Tran Quoc Tuan had to explain the case because he is an official under the management of this agency.

Concerning Tuan’s explanation to the General Department of Sports, he confirmed that he did not take bribes. The General Department of Sports also met with Chuong to make clear the denunciations and gather evidence to prove Chuong’s accusations to be true. However, Chuong could not show any evidence related to his accusation.

At the meeting with officials of the General Department of Sports, Chuong said he only provided evidence to the investigating agency because inspectors of the General Department of Sports were incompetent to take the evidence.

Based on results of the meetings with Chuong and Tuan’s explanation, the General Department of Sports and Physical Training concluded that there was not enough evidence to accuse Tuan of taking bribes.

Dung is not an official of the General Department of Sports, so the VFF is in charge of verifying the accusation against him. As reported by the VFF inspection board, Dung did not receive VND100 million from Chuong.

The conclusion about the case, signed by Mr. Wang Bich Thang, Head of the General Department of Sport, has been sent to involved parties, including Chuong, Tuan and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Nam Son

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