Local film star and Hollywood stuntman Johnny Tri Nguyen is in hot water after hosting an illegal martial arts competition last month in Nha Be District.
Related Articles:
- Vietnamese Celebrity Fined For Letting Her Child Urinate In Vomit Bag
- Vietnamese Celebrities Flaunt Their Wealth
Just over two weeks ago, local authorities shut down a martial arts competition at Lien Phong Martial Arts, reports Thanh Nien.
The center, which is owned by Nguyen and teaches around 100 students, caught flack for hosting the unsanctioned 2015 Martial Arts Championships, which the actor had failed to register with the relevant authorities, as required by law.
According to safety regulations, Vietnam requires martial arts competitions to have certain medical services available to competitors at all times, including an ambulance on standby.
Nguyen, however, alleges that the 'competition' was not, in fact, a contest but rather a graduation level test for martial arts students who were hoping to advance to a higher level. The actor insists that he had marketed the event as a competition on Facebook simply to make it more appealing for students, however no actual competition was involved.
Parents, too, suggested awarding medals, Nguyen says, while a one-day VND200,000 fee was used to cover the costs for martial artists and trainers.
In the end, local authorities slapped Lien Phong with a VND76 million (US$3,381) fine. Nguyen has since filed an appeal and is awaiting the response. Meanwhile, Lien Phong's Facebook advertisement describing the test as a competition has since been removed, and Nguyen maintains that all will go ahead as planned with the final test on October 18.