As reported by Lao Dong Newspaper, in the issued conclusion, the Inspectorate of Thai Nguyen province pointed out a series of violations in construction, land, and environment at the Da Thien Cultural Eco-tourism Project (Dong Hy district) invested by Thien Phuc Fine Arts Construction Company Limited (Thien Phuc Company).
Conclusion No. 05/KL-TTR dated June 19, 2024, Thai Nguyen Provincial Inspectorate stated that the Management Board of Da Thien Temple religious facility (Da Thien Temple Management Board) signed documents and agreements for Thien Phuc Company to receive and use nearly 3 billion VND in donations but there were no records or documents for payment and settlement.
Thien Phuc Company was required to return the donation of nearly 3 billion VND, including 80% of the donation directly at the temple and 100% of the donation via QR code scanning to the company's account. Previously, Thien Da Temple was handed over to Thien Phuc Company for management and restoration from January 6, 2023.
Ambiguous reception and management of donation money for a long time
Recently, residents of Group 7, Trai Cau town continued to report to Lao Dong Newspaper about the ambiguities and irregularities in receiving, managing and using the donation money before the Thien Da Temple was handed over to Thien Phuc Company, period 2014-2022.
On October 31, speaking with reporters, Mr. Nong Van Hoan - Deputy Head of the Management Board of Da Thien Temple - said that in December 2014, the Religious Affairs Department of the Department of Home Affairs of Thai Nguyen province issued document No. 80/BTG-NV identifying Da Thien Temple as a religious establishment.
However, from 2014 to 2022, Thien Da Temple was taken over by some members of Ms. H.T.L's family (group 7, Trai Cau town) - the temple's custodian - and not handed over to the community for management according to the provisions of the Law on Belief and Religion.
At that time, Dong Hy district also came many times to persuade, explain and request to hand over the above religious facility for management according to regulations, but these people did not comply.
"Before 2023, all the money from visitors coming to worship and make donations was received, used, and spent by this group of people.
"How much of that donation money is, who is managing it, and how it is being used, no one in the village knows yet," said Mr. Hoan.
"Every year, Thien Da Temple has tens of thousands of visitors from all over the country visiting, worshiping, and receiving a huge amount of money in donations and worship.
The amount of donations that the Management Board of Thien Da Temple (under Thien Phuc Company) has received in the past is about 3 billion VND. From that, we can see that the amount of donations from previous years was not small," Mr. Hoan commented.
Transfer the file to the police if violations are detected.
Regarding the above content, Mr. Nghiem Son Ha - Chairman of Trai Cau Town People's Committee - said that up to now, it is still impossible to determine the amount of donations received at Da Thien Temple before 2023.
"I know that many people brought billions of dong to donate, but all records of receiving donations and spending documents at that time were not provided," the town leader informed.
According to the Chairman of Trai Cau town, in the coming time, the locality hopes that the authorities will conduct an inspection of the entire process of receiving and using the donation money before 2023. If violations or signs of profiteering are detected, the case will be transferred to the police for investigation and handling according to regulations.
