Party Committee Secretary General Nguyen Phu Trong at the meeting

Phan Sao Nam case

The Central Inspection Committee is examining, disciplining and recommending disciplinary action against 12 party organizations and 20 Party Members of the Politburo and Secretariat. These include three members and former members of the Party Central Committee, two deputy ministers, one former chair of province, one former deputy secretary of provincial Party Committee, and 13 general-level officers in the armed force.

Notably, it has examined and clarified the wrongdoings, handled and requested the clarification of responsibilities of nine collectives and 29 individuals related to the reduction of imprisonment penalties for Phan Sao Nam who was involved in an online gambling ring, considered the largest of its kind uncovered in Vietnam.

Inspection and audit agencies have transferred documents of more than 270 cases with potential crimes to the investigating agency for investigation and handling according to regulations (4 times higher than the same period in previous years).

Procedural agencies nationwide have investigated and filed charges against 4,084 suspects (2,130 cases), prosecuted 4,056 suspects (2,024 cases), tried at first instance trials 1,898 cases of 3,471 defendants.

Regarding corruption cases, the agencies have investigated and filed charges against 646 suspects (266 cases), prosecuted 643 suspects (250 cases); and carried out first-instance trial of 214 cases of 525 defendants.

They have expanded investigation, clarified the act of appropriation and corruption, and thus prosecuted more defendants, including high-ranking cadres, both incumbent and retired, and general-level officers in the armed forces (10 cadres under the Politburo and Party Secretariat management).

A substantial number of major cases have been put into prosecution, including ones in the healthcare sector, at units of the Command of the Coast Guard, and the Border Guard; and violations of regulations on land management, State asset management and use in Binh Duong, Khanh Hoa, and HCM City.

Also, agencies have prosecuted and investigated many cases that occurred in the education sector, which exploited Covid-19 to seek profit, as well as violations in anti-corruption forces.

The work of recovering assets appropriated and lost in cases under the supervision and direction of the Central Steering Committee for Anti-Corruption continues to have positive developments. Prosecuting agencies have temporarily seized, distrained, blocked accounts, or prevented transactions of assets worth more than VND1.750 trillion, while civil judgment enforcement agencies have recovered more than VND9 trillion.

Cases in healthcare sector

Regarding the tasks for the time to come, Trong asked all levels of Party Committees and organizations to seriously implement the task of preventing and combating corruption and wrongdoings in accordance with the new spirit of the Central Committee.

It’s necessary to have a new determination in the fight against corruption and wrongdoings; and resolutely prevent, detect and strictly handle corrupt and negative acts, with a focus on dealing with deterioration in political ideology, morality and lifestyle among cadres, party members and civil servants.

With that spirit, the Secretary General proposed solving difficulties and obstacles, and speeding up the investigation, prosecution and trial of cases under the supervision and direction of the Steering Committee, striving to fulfill the tasks in 2021 as planned.

He emphasized the strict handling of violations related to the healthcare sector, land irregularities, wrongdoings in state asset use in Binh Duong, Khanh Hoa and HCM City, and giving and receiving of bribes; smuggling and counterfeit goods trading in Dong Nai and other cities and provinces; and cases in some units of the Command of Coast Guard and Border Guard.

He also asked that key cases be brought to first-instance trials. These are cases "violating regulations on investment in construction works, causing serious consequences" that occurred at the Da Nang – Quang Ngai Expressway Project; “violating regulations on bidding, causing serious consequences” which occurred at Hanoi Department of Planning and Investment; “violating regulations on management and use of State assets, causing losses and waste”, property embezzlement; “lacking responsibilities, causing serious consequences" at Sagri Corporation.

The Standing Committee of the Steering Committee for Anti-Corruption has decided to put the handling of wrongdoings committed by cadres and Party members under the management of the Steering Committee.

These include the handling of cadres and Party members related to cases of smuggling, and illegally carrying banknotes and goods across border gates; gambling and organizing gambling in An Giang; wrongdoings in civil service examination in PhuYen; and a case related to Phan Sao Nam reduction of prison term. 

Thu Hang

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