Courts at all levels handled over 438,625 out of the total 491,384 cases received, or 89.3 percent, in 2017, the Supreme People’s Court said at a press conference on January 31 in Hanoi. 

The number of suspended cases was 9,622, and the remaining are in the process of settlement. 

Major cases, especially economic crimes and corruption cases drawing public attention, were handled swiftly and strictly. 

The outstanding cases that were tried during the year included the smuggling and counterfeiting of seals at VN Pharma Joint Stock Company; the breach of lending regulations of credit institutions at Oceanbank; the intentional violation of State regulations on economic management causing serious consequences at the Vietnam Construction Bank; and the wrongdoings at PetroVietnam and its subsidiary PetroVietnam Construction Joint Stock Corporation (PVC).

Speaking at the event, Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Court Nguyen Hoa Binh said many new regulations have been applied at courts, including the new layout in the court room, new costumes of judges, and new principles of litigation. 

Binh also said the Supreme People’s Court will propose an end to mobile trials to the National Assembly Standing Committee in July.-VNA