Chief of the cycling department of Ho Chi Minh City, Phan Quy Bach, has been under hot seat for allegedly peculating almost VND700 million (US$34,000) which was competition allowances for Saigon Plant Protection cycling team over a year ago.

Bach and leaders of the team had a meeting yesterday to settle the matter. However, the team coach Do Thanh Dat said they have not agreed with his explanation and offically reported the issue to police and people’s committee of the city.

At the meeting, Bach only confessed that he abused the sum for other teams but denied his embezzlement.

Mai Ba Hung, vice director of the HCMC Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, told Tuoi Tre, his agency will issue punishment after Bach reports his wrongdoings.

However, he added, his department may delay the penalty announcement till police announce their investigation result.

Usually, each team attending tournaments is given allowances for transport, cooking and housing by local sports authorities.

Not only the Saigon Plant Protection team, two other cycling teams of the city – men’s and women’s – have yet received the allowances from Bach, totally at VND300 million ($14,600).

Source: Tuoi Tre