The chief security officer at an airport in the central Vietnamese city of Da Nang has been given a warning after keeping VND10 million (US$441) lost by a passenger for himself.

Nguyen Tien Thang received a warning and reprimand for not returning the money to its owner, Doan Thanh Phuong, the deputy director of the Da Nang International Airport, confirmed on Monday afternoon.

Thang was the leader of the airports security screening team at the time of the incident and has since been appointed to be the deputy director of the facility’s training center.

According to the case file, a passenger at the airport lost some VND10 million in cash along with several dollar bills in 2016.

The money was later found and reported to the security team.

Thang failed to return the money to the owner as per airport protocol but decided to keep it to himself instead.

Following a complaint by a passenger, managers of the Da Nang airport carried out an investigation and discovered the violation.

Thang admitted his crime and later returned the cash to its rightful owner.

Regarding Thang’s promotion despite the offense, Phuong explained that the appointment was confirmed in January 2016, while his violation was only discovered in August of the same year.

“If the incident had been uncovered prior, Thang would not have been entrusted with the position,” Phuong continued.

The airport official added that the sanctioning was decided upon by the Airports Corporation of Vietnam.

According to Le Cao, a member of the Da Nang Bar Association, the penalty was not stern enough.

“Thang's keeping the lost property to himself is embezzlement,” Cao asserted.

Thang has the authorization to receive assets lost by passengers and was responsible for carrying out procedures to return the property, but he decided to ignore the regulation.

This is a serious offense and requires stern punishment by the law, the lawyer stated.

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