Conflict-of-Interest Charges Added Against Ex-Official

A former Cerritos College administrator awaiting trial on conflict-of-interest charges now faces similar accusations by the state Fair Political Practices Commission.

The commission has scheduled an October hearing for Viet Be, the college’s former vice president of student services.

An administrative law judge is expected to review evidence that Be illegally benefited from a sideline business during his tenure at the college.

Dismissed from his position in November 1994 after an internal college investigation, Be pleaded not guilty in January to three counts of embezzlement and conflict of interest. A preliminary hearing is set for June 3.

Be allegedly told foreign students that they had to pay his business $80 to $120 to have their transcripts evaluated before they could register for classes. Investigators say he also sold computers to the college without disclosing his financial interest.

The commission’s charges deal only with conflict of interest and carry a maximum fine of $8,000.

But Deputy Dist. Atty. Rich Goul said that only one set of penalties can be enforced, and that if Be is found guilty both times, he would probably serve the criminal charges, which carry a maximum sentence of four years and four months.

The commission enforces provisions of the Political Reform Act, which bars public officials from prospering financially due to their own administrative decisions.