Lawmakers convening today in Hanoi for 14th session of the National’s Assembly’s Standing Committee are scheduled to discuss an amended Law on Corruption Prevention and Control, giving the State more leverage against officials suspected of corruption.

Lawmakers convening today in Hanoi for 14th session of the National’s Assembly’s Standing Committee are scheduled to discuss an amended Law on Corruption Prevention and Control, giving the State more leverage against officials suspected of corruption.

The revision of the 2005 Law on Anti-Corruption will provide for the formation of an independent office or agency to monitor major changes in assets or income declared by officials. It will be authorised to seek clarification of changes and check the veracity of officials’ answers. 

The revised law will also be expanded to include social organisations and enterprises. Accordingly, all social organisations and enterprises will have to conduct internal anti-corruption measures. 

The agenda of the ten-day meeting, preparing the NA’s fourth meeting scheduled for next month, also includes the draft Law on Special Administrative Economic Units, amendments and supplements to the Law on Physical Activity and Sports and the Law on Measurements and Maps.

Also on schedule are debates on amendments and supplements to laws on an Environmental Protection Tax, competition, cyber security, planning, credit organisations, judicial records, the public administration and the draft revised Law on Public Debt Management.

Lawmakers will also discuss preparations for the NA’s fourth session, the government’s report on the NA’s enforcement of the Constitution, laws and resolutions, the State Audit Office’s 2018 plans, the draft decree on the management and use of the State budget for external affairs, and the government’s report on implementation of the national target on gender equality.

Lawmakers are due to examine the enforcement of legal regulations on seafood exploitation and processing in tandem with ensuring national defence-security.

Reports of the Government, the Supreme People’s Court, the Supreme People’s Procuracy, the Chief Judge of the Supreme People’s Court and the Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Procuracy about the fight against crimes and execution of sentences will also be reviewed.

Corruption fight

Corruption cases in 2017 have so far resulted in over VNĐ1.35 trillion (US$59.4 million) in damages, of which VNĐ158.8 billion, $314,000, four houses and one apartment have been retrieved.

The data was reported by Deputy Inspector General of Government Inspectorate Đặng Công Huấn at a recent plenary session of the National Assembly’s Judiciary Committee in Hà Nội, held to discuss corruption prevention work in 2017.

According to the report, so far this year the General Department of Civil Judgment Enforcement has processed 128 new cases of corruption, with an amount of over VNĐ5.1 trillion, of which 86 cases have been resolved, accounting for over VNĐ1 trillion.

From October 1, 2016 to July 31 this year, the investigating bodies in the public security sector have investigated 282 cases and convicted 628 defendants for corruption (195 new cases, 393 defendants). They have concluded the investigation of 122 cases with 355 accused, while they are currently investigating 145 cases with 251 defendants. Meanwhile, the Procuracy at all levels prosecuted 241 cases with 595 individuals accused of corruption crimes.

Some provincial leaders, deputy ministers and ministers have been ousted for graft, abuse of power or mismanagement causing serious consequences.

In July, The Supreme People’s Procuracy announced it has indicted Chau Thi Thu Nga, former National Assembly deputy, and nine accomplices for their role in a VNĐ377 billion ($16.8 million) property scam.

Nga, chairwoman of the Land and Housing Construction and Investment JSC (Housing Group), and nine others will be prosecuted on charges of “fraudulent appropriation of assets” under Article 139 of the Penal Code.

NA General Secretary Nguyen Hanh Phuc has asked for an investigation into reports that Nga had paid bribes worth VNĐ 30 billion ($1.3 million) to become a NA deputy. 

VNS