Soc Trang province authorities are facing public criticism after purchasing four new Lexus vehicles using money from traffic fines.
On June 6, former police chief of Soc Trang province Lieutenant-General Nguyen Phuc Thao told Zing he made the proposal to purchase these four Lexus vehicles in 2009 when many other provinces were buying similar vehicles under a tax-free policy. Thao's suggestion was approved by the Ministry of Public Security and the vehicles were purchased.
However, Soc Trang officials didn't buy the cars until after Thao was transferred to another unit. The expense, which totaled just over VND6 billion, is said to have come from money collected as traffic fines.
Though the vehicles were originally meant to serve as transportation for higher authorities visiting the province on business trips, Soc Trang locals allege that the vehicles have been used for officials' personal errands, reports VnExpress.
After purchase, two of the cars were placed under police department supervision, while the other two were in the hands of provincial Party officials.
According to a 2007 circular governing the usage of public property, Soc Trang's police department and provincial authority are at fault for using the vehicle as a personal means of transportation, an unnamed lawyer from the Can Tho Bar Association told Zing.
For his part, Party Secretary of the Soc Trang Provincial Committee Nguyen Van The told reporters that the purchase of the vehicles was not illegal, as it had received prior approval from the Ministry of Public Security, however provincial officials had returned the vehicles to police custody as they currently have enough government vehicles and no longer needed them.
[Photo via Zing]
