American International School Vietnam chairwoman arrested for disrupting public order

Ho Chi Minh City police's investigative agency on Thursday initiated legal proceedings against and detained chairwoman of American International School Vietnam (AISVN) Nguyen Thi Ut Em for "disturbing public order.”

Two others, Do Phuong Linh and Nguyen Thanh Trieu, have also been subjected to legal proceedings and detained on the same charge.

According to initial investigations, Em, 62, organized and incited disturbances that negatively affected public order and security.

On March 26, she led a group of employees and parents to the school gate in Long Thoi commune, Nha Be district, Ho Chi Minh City, where they vandalized the properties and attempted to retake control of the school.

Late March, the leadership of the HCMC People's Committee instructed relevant departments to implement the inspection conclusion dated March 11 and further clarify signs of wrongdoings at the school.

The municipal Inspectorate later transferred the case to the investigative agency to handle the illegal fundraising by AIS American International Education JSC, the school’s owner, through loan agreements and education investment contracts.

In fact, the raised funds were used to pay loan interest and cover other transactions.

Earlier, Ut Em was accused by the parents of 1,400 students in the school system of abusing trust and misappropriating assets.

On March 24, representatives of the parents' group submitted an urgent petition to various authorities, requesting an investigation into the actions of Ut Em and others involved. The case is under investigation.