Bac Ninh province official dismissed for playing golf during office hours

Dang Tran Trung, director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in the northern province of Bac Ninh, was removed from his position on Friday for playing golf during office hours.

The standing board of the provincial Party Committee also decided to expel Trung from his position as member of the provincial Party Committee for the 2020-2025 term.

Dang Cong Huong, deputy director of the department; and Dang Cong Toan, director of the province’s agricultural and rural development project management unit, were reprimanded. Meanwhile, Nguyen Anh Tuan, chief of Yen Phong district's Party Committee and chairman of the district People's Council, must clarify his violations.

The standing board of the provincial Party Committee stated that the individuals had played golf during office hours, causing bad public opinion and affecting the reputation of Party organizations and individuals to the point that they must be disciplined.

It requested relevant Party organizations, officials and members to seriously observe administrative discipline, the code of ethics, office culture, and their responsibility to set a good example and successfully complete assigned tasks.

On November 22, 2023, the press reported that some department and district leaders in Bac Ninh played golf three times a week during office hours. Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang later asked the province's chairman to verify the information.