On August 14th, the Central Steering Committee on Anti-Corruption and Negative Phenomena held its 26th session in Hanoi to review and discuss three key issues.

These included a report on the progress and outcomes of anti-corruption efforts in the first half of the year, a report on the handling of cases under the Steering Committee's direct supervision since its 25th session, and a report on the activities of provincial-level anti-corruption steering committees in the first half of 2024.

During the session, the Steering Committee emphasized that the fight against corruption and negative phenomena continues to gain momentum, playing a crucial role in building and rectifying the Party, maintaining political stability, promoting socio-economic development, and strengthening public trust.

Notably, several Party and state regulations have been revised, supplemented, or newly enacted to directly support the anti-corruption efforts.

The work of inspection, supervision, auditing, and law enforcement has been intensified, with severe violations being addressed, including holding top officials accountable. This has created new breakthroughs in the anti-corruption campaign.

In the first six months of 2024, Party committees and inspection commissions at all levels have disciplined 308 Party organizations and 11,005 Party members, an increase of 34 organizations and 1,055 members compared to the same period in 2023.

The Party Central Committee, Politburo, Secretariat, and Central Inspection Commission have disciplined 47 high-ranking officials.

The Inspectorate and Audit sectors have focused on areas prone to corruption and negative phenomena, as well as on specific issues as directed by the Steering Committee. As a result, they have recommended recovering 71,431.6 billion VND and 24.9 hectares of land, and proposed administrative actions against 856 organizations and 3,862 individuals, an increase of 72 organizations and 950 individuals compared to the same period in 2023.

Law enforcement agencies have transferred 269 cases with criminal signs to investigation agencies for legal proceedings. The State Audit of Vietnam has provided 89 audit reports and related documents to competent authorities for investigation, inspection, and supervision.

Since the beginning of the year, competent authorities have processed the resignations, reassignments, or retirements of 14 high-ranking officials under central management, including five Politburo members, one Secretariat member, and four Party Central Committee members, along with 172 officials under local Party committee management, due to their responsibilities as leaders or involvement in corruption and negative incidents.

The investigation, prosecution, and trial of corruption and negative phenomena cases have been carried out vigorously, with many serious cases involving multiple ministries, sectors, and localities being strictly handled according to the principle of "handling one case to warn an entire region or sector," with "no prohibited zones, no exceptions."

In the first half of this year, 2,836 cases involving 5,975 defendants have been newly prosecuted and investigated for corruption, economic, and office-related crimes, an increase of 841 cases and 1,487 defendants compared to the same period in 2023. Of these, 475 cases involving 1,094 defendants are specifically related to corruption.

In particular, the Steering Committee has overseen the investigation, prosecution, and first-instance trial of eight cases involving 212 defendants and the appellate trial of six cases involving 39 defendants. Several major cases have been successfully prosecuted as planned by the Steering Committee.

Examples include the case of "Embezzlement; Violation of regulations on banking activities and other activities related to banking operations; Abuse of power during public duty; Bribery; Accepting bribes; Negligence causing serious consequences; and Abuse of trust to appropriate assets" involving SCB, Van Thinh Phat Group, An Dong Group, and related organizations.

Additionally, there is the case of "Stock market manipulation; Fraudulent appropriation of assets" involving FLC Group, BOS Securities, Faros Construction, and related companies; and the case of "Fraudulent appropriation of assets" involving Tan Hoang Minh Trading Service Hotel Co., Ltd.

Ongoing trials include the case of "Bribery; Receiving bribes; Bribery brokering; Forgery in work; Production, sale, exchange, or gifting of tools, equipment, and software used for illegal purposes; Unauthorized access to computer networks, telecommunications networks, or electronic means of others; Concealing crimes; Forgery of seals, documents of agencies and organizations; and Abuse of power during public duty" involving the Vietnam Register, vehicle registration centers, and inland waterway registration centers in Ho Chi Minh City and several provinces and cities.

Thu Hang