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Many artists have expressed their discontentment over the decision of suspending investigation over Mr. Le Ngoc Minh, former Vice Chief of the Vietnam Cinema Agency.
On August 13, the People’s Supreme Procuracy signed a decision to suspend investigation over Minh, in the VND42 billion ($2 million) loss case at the Vietnam Cinema Agency one year ago.
The decision was sent to the Vietnam Cinema Agency and several other bodies, but not to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
A VietNamNet’s correspondent called the Ministry’s chief inspector Vu Xuan Thanh to ask about the decision, but Thanh said that he had not received the decision and did not hear anything about it.
Last week, when the decision was sent to the Vietnam Cinema Agency, it immediately stirred up the agency’s staff and artists.
Screenwriter Phan Thanh Tu said: “There is nothing to say about it. Many people have raised their voices over the case. Some even sent their complaints to the President but now it is suspended.”
People’s Artist, director Vu Le My said: “I’ve heard about this information but I have not checked it. Certainly, anyone who knows about it feels uncomfortable. Previously, a similar case at the cinema agency, with small amount of money, was solved thoroughly. This case is very clear. It is extremely unbelievable that such a big case is suspended!”
Screenwriter Trinh Thanh Nha did not agree with the suspension, saying that the case’s consequences have not been solved yet and it has affected many film projects.
Director Vu Xuan Hung, deputy director of the Vietnam Feature Film Studio, said: “It is a bad thing that the investigation is suspended, because this is a big case and it has made serious impacts on Vietnam’s cinema industry”.
Some artists complained that the $2.2 million in lost is considered like shells and nobody has to take responsibility for the loss, while the Vietnam Cinema Agency has not had a single coin to produce new films.
Previously, Minh, was prosecuted for his involvement in the loss of VND42 billion ($2 million) at the Vietnam Cinema Agency.
Minh was charged for “being irresponsible, causing serious consequences.” Some others were also prosecuted for the same charge, including the former chief accountant of the Vietnam Cinema Agency and two accountants of the State Treasury of Ba Dinh district, Hanoi.
According to investigators, accountant Pham Thanh Hai, 34, forged documents and misappropriated VND42 billion (US$2 billion) from the Vietnam Cinema Agency’s account at the Ba Dinh District State Treasury during 2009-2011.
Hai was just a staff member of the agency’s finance and accounting division, but authorized to withdraw money from banks when the chief accountant was absent.
He is suspected to have fled overseas.
Minh and the former chief of the Vietnam Cinema Agency Lai Van Sinh were forced to step down following strong protests from the movie industry about the misappropriation.
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