Graft, violations gobble up $411mil in public funds

The information was divulged in HCM City on Monday at a workshop reviewing the ispectorate sector's work and targets for next year.

Inspectors discovered violations worth VND1.6 trillion ($94 million) in public funds, VND56.5 billion ($3.3 million) in construction investment and more than 12,300ha in land use.

According to the Government Inspectorate, major shortcomings are dogging infrastructure construction investment, particularly wasteful, lengthy processes that sap resources.

The majority of violations were found in project planning, bidding and construction process, the Government Inspectorate said.

Violations were also found in land planning and use, particularly in land clearance and compensation.

Anti-corruption inspections in localities found 54 cases of corruption worth VND5.5 trillion ($323 million). Punitive measures for 59 violators, and criminal prosecution for 28 corruption cases involving 43 people have been proposed, according to the Government Inspectorate.

Corruption prevention and control work has yet to bring about significant change.

Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong said the inspectorate sector has fulfilled its task in 2008, contributing to improving the efficiency of State management and ensuring social order and security.

Inspections in 2008 were overall improved and most results received support from the Prime Minister, relevant ministries and agencies as well as local citizens, he said.

The sector has performed its key role in aiding the Party leadership to tackle wastefulness and to enhance corruption prevention, he said.

Trong, who doubles as deputy head of the National Steering Committee for Corruption Prevention and Control, said attention needs to be shifted to specific inspections. Many violations were not handled in a timely manner, he said, adding that a number of inspections failed to correctly evaluate the causes, and levels of, violations - particularly those relating to corruption.

The deputy PM urged the sector to be more active and to work more closely with relevant ministries and agencies to raise its operation efficiency to discover violations. He also pressed them to improve training for inspectors to build a stronger staff.

In 2009, inspection will focus on land use and management, mineral resources, construction investment management, equitisation of State-run enterprises and finance, said General Inspector Tran Van Truyen.