VietNamNet Bridge – The PM recently issued Decision 477/QĐ-TTg, which annuls previous Decision 48/QĐ-Ttg, issued in 2010, on awarding the PM’s certificate of merit to Trinh Xuan Thanh, former State official found guilty of several wrongdoings.

Trinh Xuan Thanh, a wanted fugitive, who once served as head of Petrovietnam Construction Joint Stock Corporation. Under his fraught management, the company suffered great financial losses in consecutive years.

The latest decision was signed last week by Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh on behalf of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

According to the decision, the head of the Government asked the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) to withdraw all certificates of merit and recover incentive bonuses handed out to Trinh Xuan Thanh (if any). 

All medals of recognition and incentive bonuses handed out to Petroleum Construction Viet Nam (PVC) would also be recalled, where Thanh served and caused losses of nearly US$150 million.

Rewards in the form of objects are to be sent to the Central Commission for Commendations and bonuses (if any) are to be paid back in full to the commendation fund of the agency which handed out these bonuses to Trinh Xuan Thanh and PVC.

Earlier this month, the MoIT proposed to the Prime Minister to consider recalling awards and bonuses given to Thanh.

The process of recalling rewards and bonuses is said to be “simple and easily done,” according to a member of the Central Commission for Commendations and Rewards.

On Monday, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong ordered relevant agencies to expend all necessary resources on expanding the investigation of corruption cases related to PVC, with the focus on the arrest and extradition of its former head, Trinh Xuan Thanh, who had allegedly escaped overseas.

VNS