People's Council official clubs woman caddy on the links

Nguyen Viet Dung, 44, chairman of the Dat Quang Group management board and a member of the Quang Nam People's Council, submitted a report to the council Tuesday that said he went golfing with several partners at a BRG course in Da Nang that borders Quang Nam on December 6.

A 32-year-old woman named Loan was providing caddy assistance to the group when a dispute over game rules occurred.

The report said that while arguing with the caddy, Dung swung his golf club downwards in Loan’s direction. The club snapped in half, according to the report, and a piece injured Loan’s face.

Dung’s relatives then took Loan to Da Nang Hospital. The official said he had apologized to Loan and paid her hospital expenses.

"I truly regret what my actions have done to Loan, as well as the reputation of the Quang Nam People’s Council," he said.

Loan had a mild injury and returned to work on Tuesday.

BRG Da Nang announced that Dung had been banned from all BRG Golf facilities.

A representative of the Bach Khoa Da Nang golf club, where Dung was a member, said that Dung’s actions were a serious violation of the rules and culture of golf, tarnishing the reputation of golf players and the sport itself.

The club reported on December 9 that it had "cancelled" Dung's membership and that he was permanently banned from all club events.

A Quang Nam People’s Council press conference on the matter scheduled for Tuesday was postponed due to "lack of information." Police from Da Nang’s Ngu Hanh Son District have also not released any information regarding the incident.