The Government Inspectorate on October 15 said that it had found misuse of public funds totalling 354 billion VND (16.8 million USD) in four public projects.

Announcing the agency's inspection results for the third quarter of this year, Deputy Inspector General Le Tien Hao said the inspectorate has petitioned to revoke 3.1 billion VND out of the misused for return to the State budget and asked relevant agencies and authorities to deal with the remaining amount.

The four projects include one on the renovation of district-level hospitals and inter-district hospitals during the 2008-10 period implemented by the Health Ministry and People's Committees of Dien Bien, Lang Son, Thanh Hoa, Dak Nong, Tien Giang, Vinh Long provinces.

Another is related to using public funds for tourism infrastructure development by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.

The other two projects deal with the implementation of civil cases within the responsibility of the Justice Ministry and on the rebuilding and reconstruction of classrooms and teachers' housing in the 2008-12 period, implemented by various steering committees, the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and the Ministry of Finance.

At the press briefing, inspectors also said the inspectorate was working to finalise progress reports on 20 inspections and it had begun work on another seven cases.

Among the 20 inspection reports still being finalised are those on the use of public funds and investment at the Electricity of Vietnam, Agribank and the Vietnam Rubber Group.

Answering media inquiries, Deputy Inspector General Ngo Van Khanh said they were still working on the inspection report on the allegations of EVN's misuse of public funds for building villas, high-rise apartment buildings, swimming pools and tennis courts as part of its six electricity projects.

Khanh, however, refuted claims that these activities were related to the increase in the price of electricity, which was raised by 5 percent in August this year.

On October 14, authorities also released final investigation reports on the case of the former director of Vietnam Maritime Administration, Duong Chi Dung, who was arrested last year and has been charged with "deliberately violating State regulations on economic management, causing serious consequences" during his time at the loss-making company.

Under his leadership, a number of violations were made at the State-owned logistics company from 2007-2010. One violation related to the purchase and repair of Floating Dock 83M. The initial cost was pegged at 14.13 million USD but later skyrocketed to 24.3 million USD.

Originally built in 1965, it did not meet licensing or registration requirements which resulted in years of disuse.

The final investigation reports stated that he also used 1.6 million USD to buy two luxury apartments for his mistress, according to various media reports, and that this case would soon be put on trial.-VNA