Apart from 96 officials in An Phu and Thoai Son districts, the government of An Giang province in southern Vietnam has detected an additional 44 officials who used fake high-school diplomas.

These are officials of Tan Chau town, Tinh Bien and Tri Ton districts. However, only 16 of them, who are also members of the Communist Party, have been punished so far.

In the neighboring province of Bac Lieu, a false diploma ring was detected in late 2010. Dozens of officials who used fake diplomas to take high positions in local government agencies have been punished.

Recently, four defendants in the ring, including the former chairman of a commune-level veteran association in Hong Dan district, was sentenced for two years in jail for counterfeiting seals and documents of government agencies.

In this case, this official bought a fake high-school diploma at the price of VND4.5 million (over $200) to be able to hold his position. After that, he sold fake high-school diplomas to other officials in Hong Dan district at the price of VND10 million ($500).

A total of 29 officials in Hong Dan district were defined as buying fake diplomas from this official. All of them were reprimanded by the local Party cell but they still hold their positions.

PV