Ben Tre province's Party chief faces disciplinary action over dishonest asset declaration

The Central Inspection Committee has proposed the Politburo, the Vietnamese Communist Party's premier decision-making body, to discipline Le Duc Tho, secretary of Ben Tre province's Party Committee, for dishonest declaration of assets.

Tho, also a Party Central Committee member, was found to have "seriously violated the Party's regulations and State's laws to the point that he must be disciplined", the committee stated in a Thursday release.

He breached the rules on Party members' conduct and responsibility to set a good example in declaring assets and income in a transparent manner. Tho explained the origin and fluctuations of his assets "dishonestly, incompletely and not in line with regulations".

Tho's violations were determined as adversely affecting the reputation of the Party "to the extent that he must be disciplined."

Le Duc Tho, 53, has a doctorate in economic management. He used to be deputy general director of state-run Vietinbank; chief of the State Bank of Vietnam Office; board member cum general director of Vietinbank, and chairman of the bank.

He has been secretary of the Ben Tre Party Committee since July 2021.