Details of 3 embezzlement and bribery cases in Nghe An being handled and investigated

Cases of embezzlement and bribery accepted, investigated and tried (both from previous years and cases discovered during the period) include:

1. The case of Phan Van Thang and accomplices, committing the crimes of "Giving bribes" and "Receiving bribes".

The case unfolded as follows: Around June 2017, Phan Van Thang (Lam Dong hamlet, Hung Tay commune) went to Ru Chua and Ru Am areas in Dai Hue 1 hamlet, Hung Tay commune (Hung Nguyen) to fence off some (forestry) land to sell to people who wanted to build a cemetery.

On October 2, 2018, Thang sold to Mr. Tran Quang Hai in Block 2, Vinh Tan Ward, Vinh City a plot of land with an area of ​​about 80 square meters for 200,000,000 VND and Mr. Hai deposited 50,000,000 VND in advance for Thang to make documents certifying the land for cemetery at the People's Committee of Hung Tay Commune, promising to pay the remaining amount after completing the procedures on October 10, 2018.

A mountain corner west of Hung Tay commune. Photo: Internet

After completing the transaction with Mr. Hai, Phan Van Thang gave Ho Viet Dung in Dai Hue 1 hamlet, Hung Tay commune 50,000,000 VND, 01 transfer paper, and a land application to complete the procedures. Dung took the cemetery land file to meet Mr. Nguyen Huy De (a land official of Hung Tay commune) to ask for a confirmation signature and through Mr. De's nephew, Cao Van Tuyen, gave him 8,000,000 VND.

After that, Dung continued to meet and give Mr. Nguyen Trung Tien (Head of the cemetery of Hung Tay commune) the amount of 3,000,000 VND, asking him to sign for confirmation. Next, Dung met and gave Mr. Nguyen Trung Dong (Head of Dai Hue 1 hamlet, Hung Tay commune) the amount of 22,000,000 VND, asking him to sign for confirmation and asked him to bring it to the Chairman of the People's Committee of the commune to sign and stamp.

After completing the procedure of "the land recognition record for the construction of a cemetery for Mr. Tran Quang Hai's family", Mr. Dong returned it to Dung. On October 10, 2018, Mr. Tran Quang Hai called Phan Van Thang and was promised and delayed by Thang for many different reasons. Suspecting that he was being scammed, on November 31, 2018, Mr. Hai went to the Investigation Police Department of Hung Nguyen District Police to report Phan Van Thang's fraud.

Afterwards, the Investigation Police Agency of Hung Nguyen District Police issued a decision to prosecute the case; prosecute Phan Van Thang and his accomplices for the crime of "Giving bribes" as prescribed in Article 364 of the 2015 Penal Code (amended and supplemented in 2017); prosecute Nguyen Huy De and Nguyen Trung Dong for the crime of "Receiving bribes" as prescribed in Article 364 of the 2015 Penal Code (amended and supplemented in 2017).

The case has now completed investigation, prosecution and trial. Specifically, Judgment No. 30/HSST dated August 27, 2019 of the People's Court of Hung Nguyen district sentenced defendant Nguyen Huy De (former cadastral officer of Hung Tay commune) to 24 months in prison; defendant Nguyen Trung Dong (former Head of Dai Hue 1 hamlet, Hung Tay commune) to 15 months in prison but suspended the sentence, probation for 30 months for the crime of "Receiving bribes". Sentenced defendant Phan Van Thang to 9 months in prison, Cao Van Tuyen to 6 months in prison, Ho Viet Dung to 15 months of non-custodial reform for the crime of "Giving bribes".

2. The case of embezzlement occurred at Nghi Van Secondary School (Nghi Loc).

The case progressed as follows: With the purpose of appropriating money from the state budget, in the years from 2013 to 2017, Vuong Thi Nga, born in 1968, residing in Hamlet 11, Nghi Lien Commune, Vinh City, accountant of Nghi Van Secondary School, made false records of payments according to the regime (salaries, allowances) for cadres and teachers; Le Thi Tu, born in 1964, residing in Nghi Van Commune (Nghi Loc), treasurer of Nghi Van Secondary School, did not comply with the principles of cash receipts and disbursements at the school. The actions of Vuong Thi Nga and Le Thi Tu caused the State to lose the amount of: 1,51,760,931 VND, of which 1,450,134,000 VND was recovered.

Nghi Van Secondary School, where the violation occurred. Photo source: zing.vn

On July 14, 2019, the Nghi Loc District Police Department issued Decision No. 82 to prosecute criminal case No. 82 for the crime of "Embezzlement of property" as prescribed in Article 353 of the Penal Code. The case is currently being investigated and clarified.

3. The bribery case occurred at the PJICO Insurance transaction office (Quynh Luu district)

Summary of the case is as follows: At 4:00 p.m. on October 4, 2019, at the PJICO Quynh Luu insurance transaction office in Block 1, Cau Giat town, Quynh Luu district, the Criminal Investigation Team of Quynh Luu District Police caught Vu Van Nhan, born in 1970, residing in Hamlet 4, Quynh Ba commune, Quynh Luu district, in the act of "receiving bribes" from Ms. Tran Thi C (born in 1985), residing in Dai Bac village, Quynh Long commune, Quynh Luu district. During the arrest, the team seized 01 sealed postal envelope containing 7,000,000 VND. This is the amount of money that Vu Van Nhan received as a bribe from Ms. C.

Through an urgent search of the suspect's workplace, the investigation agency seized a number of documents and objects related to the case. Through the initial investigation, it was determined that Vu Van Nhan had taken advantage of his position and authority to proactively "demand bribes and harass" Ms. C. On October 9, 2019, the Investigation Police Agency of Quynh Luu District Police issued a Decision to prosecute the criminal case, a decision to prosecute the accused, and an order to detain Vu Van Nhan for the crime of "Receiving bribes" as prescribed in Clause 2, Article 354 of the Penal Code. The case is currently being investigated.

In 2019, the Investigation Agencies at all levels in Nghe An province investigated 14 cases/43 defendants; the Procuracy at two levels handled 06 cases/19 defendants; the court at two levels handled 05 cases/18 defendants for corruption crimes (taking advantage of, abusing positions and powers to appropriate property; embezzlement, bribery, forgery in work, abuse of power in performing official duties...).

Through investigation, prosecution and trial of corruption cases, it was discovered that they caused damage to the State of more than 57.2 billion VND, including 13 billion VND and 291,476m2 of land (equivalent to more than 44.2 billion VND), of which 7.4/13 billion VND were recovered (reaching a rate of 56.9%).