High-ranking official in Vietnam's Communist Party could lose job over sex scandal

High-ranking official in Vietnam's Communist Party could lose job over sex scandal

By The Associated Press (CP) – 1 day ago

HANOI, Vietnam — Vietnam's ruling Communist Party has asked the government to dismiss a high-ranking official allegedly involved in a sex scandal, state media reported Tuesday.

Nguyen Truong To, chairman of People's Committee in Ha Giang province, was accused of violating the conduct of a party member by having "unhealthy relations" and leading a "self-indulgent lifestyle," the Nhan Dan newspaper quoted the Central Commission for Inspection as saying. Requests by the party are usually carried out.

No details were provided about his alleged affairs, but Dai Doan Ket newspaper said Tuesday they dated back to 2005.

Police said they had evidence To had an affair with a prostitute, including photographs and text messages, and several underaged school students alleged during an unrelated trial earlier this year that the governor had sex with at least one of them.

Nhan Dan newspaper said the scandal "caused discontent among party members and the public" and that the commission had recommended he lose his job.

Senior party officials were not available for comment Tuesday.

18 people call over acrobat HIV scare

Queensland Health says 18 people have responded to a national appeal for information from anyone who had unprotected sex with a HIV positive circus acrobat.

Queensland Health says 18 people have responded to a national appeal for information from anyone who had unprotected sex with a HIV positive circus acrobat.

African-born Godfrey Zaburoni has been remanded in custody after being charged with knowingly spreading HIV by having unprotected sex with a Gold Coast woman.

The case has sparked a national health alert, with authorities urging anyone who had unprotected sex with the 32-year-old to contact them and undergo an HIV test.

Queensland Health confirmed on Wednesday afternoon that it has received 18 calls.

A Queensland Health spokesman would not confirm the callers' gender or which state they were from.

But the spokesman told AAP it's possible some of the callers could have been men who had associations with the women that had unprotected sex with Zaburoni.

He said it was difficult to confirm whether the names Zaburoni provided of 12 women with whom he'd had unprotected sex in Queensland, NSW and Victoria made up some of the callers.

Zaburoni faced the Southport Magistrates Court on Wednesday on one charge of causing grievous bodily harm and one charge of intending to cause grievous bodily harm.

He was remanded in custody for a June 9 hearing.