Need a green - yellow - red list for officials and civil servants going abroad

According to Dr. Hoang Ngoc Giao, it is necessary to classify the green, yellow, and red lists for officials and civil servants to control their exit.

Speaking at the recent meeting of the Central Steering Committee on anti-corruption, the General Secretary requested to minimize the situation of criminals fleeing abroad, and to strengthen inspection and examination of the responsibility of leaders in the fight against corruption. This is also the common expectation of public opinion nationwide when recently witnessing a number of cases where subjects under the inspection and examination for signs of wrongdoing have tried to find ways to flee abroad, causing public outrage.

These cases also show a new trick to evade legal punishment for groups of subjects who commit economic management and corruption violations. What solutions are there to prevent these subjects from fleeing abroad? The reporter interviewed Dr., Lawyer Hoang Ngoc Giao - Director of the Institute of Law and Development Policy - Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations.

Dr. Hoang Ngoc Giao (Photo: KT)

PV: The situation of corrupt officials causing the loss of thousands of billions of VND of the State and then fleeing abroad to avoid legal punishment and dispersing assets is causing much public outrage. What do you think about this situation?

Dr. Hoang Ngoc Giao:We must affirm that this is the people's property, they stole it and took it abroad. The people pay taxes, the country's resources create material wealth for economic activities, now they take advantage of their positions and powers to commit corruption. When they are about to be exposed, almost exposed, they find a way to flee abroad, making the people's anger grow even greater.

PV:According to you, from the case of Trinh Xuan Thanh fleeing before being prosecuted, or Vu Dinh Duy fleeing abroad while under inspection, what lessons should the authorities learn to prevent this situation?

Dr. Hoang Ngoc Giao: In my opinion, we must thoroughly investigate the responsibility of the agencies responsible for control, the governing agencies as well as the leaders, and the reason why during the inspection and examination process, we let those people escape abroad.

PV:The law clearly stipulates the right to protect citizens, that is, when not yet determined to be a criminal, they are completely free to move, so it is very difficult to prevent these subjects, sir?

Dr. Hoang Ngoc Giao:If we use that argument, it is only partly correct because the right to freedom of movement of people applies to all citizens, but for officials and civil servants when performing public duties, their movement can be restricted by administrative regulations. These restrictions by administrative regulations are to ensure that officials and civil servants perform their public duties well, and to ensure that the management agency controls the officials' travel abroad.

PV:In a country that respects the rule of law, there must be a clear system of legal regulations to control this matter legitimately, don't you think so, sir?

Dr. Hoang Ngoc Giao: I agree. In my opinion, along with the current regulations on the exit of officials and civil servants abroad, it is necessary to improve and possibly follow the direction of a list of 3 types: green, yellow, and red. Normal officials and civil servants who do not have any problems can be on the green list. When they wish to go abroad for medical treatment or other reasons, it is normal to ask for permission and get approval, at that time there is no need to report to the immigration agency.

Those who are being targeted need to be put on the yellow list and notified to the immigration authorities to make special requests. When they enter or exit the country, they need permission from the authorities, industry leaders, etc. The red list includes those who are banned from going abroad.

If we arrange the list in 3 types like that and in the era of electronic information technology, it is completely possible to do. If we can do that, we can completely control whether the exit is the right person or not or whether that person has the intention to escape.

PV: Corrupt criminals fleeing abroad are not only happening in our country but also in many countries around the world, such as China, but Chinese law has handled it quite effectively when in the past year they have arrested hundreds of subjects and brought them back to the country to face trial, along with that, a large amount of assets of corrupt officials have also been recovered for the budget. Through your observations, what lessons do you see that our country can refer to?

Dr. Hoang Ngoc Giao:When it comes to fighting corruption, everyone sees that China is very determined. Their law enforcement and judicial systems are strict; they cooperate very well internationally with the FBI of the United States as well as with Western countries. Therefore, the treaties and agreements they have signed with other countries on extradition of criminals are actually implemented.

Vietnam also needs to learn that it is necessary to establish an international cooperation mechanism with Interpol, the police, and other authorities in other countries, especially developed countries like the US, Australia, and Europe, on this matter. I believe that these countries will definitely support Vietnam because they also want Vietnam to fight corruption.

PV: Thank you./.

According to VOV