Anti-corruption efforts: quality over quantity

The settlement of serious and complicated corruption cases of public concern should focus on quality more than quantity, said Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

Speaking at the 10th meeting of the Central Steering Committee for Anti-Corruption in Hanoi on April 27, the Party leader called for more initiative in the combat of corruption and closer coordination between relevant agencies, firstly between members of the committee.

Corruption is a task full of hardship and also a headache to society, he said, explaining why the 12th National Party Congress designated fighting the degradation in ideology and morality, corruption and bureaucracy as two among the six key tasks.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong chairing the meeting

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, who is also head of the Central Steering Committee, called on the committee’s members to set bright examples, show their high sense of responsibility before the Party and people, and stay away from corruption.

The committee should pay heed to major localities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City while assigning tasks to its members, he said.

Inspections should be conducted in suitable destinations and at suitable time, especially in 2016, when multiple important national events are taking place, the Party chief noted.

Participants at the meeting noted that since its ninth meeting last December, the committee has instructed the handling of two serious corruption cases relating to the Vietnam Construction Bank and the Ocean Bank.

The committee also approved a cooperation mechanism between investigation and prosecuting agencies at both central and grassroots levels to deal with cases under its charge.

Competent agencies completed the first-instance trial of eight major corruption cases before the 12th National Party Congress, which took place earlier this year, and are continuing with the next steps to finish such cases, the meeting heard.

In 2016, the committee will dispatch seven inspection groups headed by its members and scrutinise serious corruption cases in 14 provinces of Thai Nguyen, Lang Son, Phu Tho, Lao Cai, Bac Ninh, Tay Ninh, Hau Giang, Soc Trang, Quang Ngai, Binh Phuoc, Quang Nam, Phu Yen, Long An and Tien Giang. Inspections will also target the tax and customs sector.

The committee will add to the list of corruption cases under its instruction the embezzlement at state-owned Vinashin Ocean Shipping Co., Ltd. (Vinashinlines), involving Giang Kim Dat, the company’s former acting sales manager, and his accomplices.