Eight key cases to be brought to trial before the 12th Party Congress.

The Central Steering Committee on Anti-Corruption unanimously agreed on the principle of bringing 08 key cases to trial before the 12th National Congress.

The Central Steering Committee on Anti-Corruption held its 8th meeting.

The above content is stated in the Announcement on the 8th Session of the Central Steering Committee on Anti-Corruption. Below is the full text of the Announcement.

On September 28, 2015, in Hanoi, the Central Steering Committee on Anti-Corruption (the Steering Committee) held its 8th session. Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary and Head of the Steering Committee, chaired the session.

At this meeting, the Steering Committee discussed, agreed upon, and concluded on the following points:

1. Regarding the results of anti-corruption efforts.

Since the 7th meeting of the Steering Committee (April 2015), the fight against corruption has continued to be actively implemented, yielding practical results in various aspects: leadership and guidance from Party committees and authorities at all levels; propaganda and education on corruption prevention and control; building and perfecting socio-economic management institutions to help prevent corruption; the Steering Committee has deployed 7 working groups to inspect, supervise, and urge the implementation of corruption prevention and control work in 4 ministries and 10 provinces and centrally-administered cities; directed a comprehensive review of socio-economic inspections in localities to detect cases with signs of corruption and transfer them to investigative agencies for handling according to the law; and inspected and urged the implementation of conclusions and recommendations of the Steering Committee's working groups. The Steering Committee has intensified efforts to detect and handle corruption cases (from April to August 2015, nationwide, the Investigation Agency initiated proceedings in 82 cases/189 defendants; the People's Procuracy prosecuted 116 cases/286 defendants; and the People's Courts at all levels conducted first-instance trials in 110 cases/232 defendants). The Steering Committee directed research and development of the Project "Strengthening the Party's leadership over the detection and handling of corruption cases in the current situation" and the Project "Review of 3 years of operation of the Steering Committee", etc.

The activities of the Central Internal Affairs Commission - the Standing Agency of the Steering Committee, the internal affairs commissions of provincial and city Party committees, and inspection, auditing, investigation, prosecution, trial, and enforcement agencies have shown considerable effort and achieved important results. However, the fight against corruption still faces limitations and obstacles that need to be addressed in the coming period.

2. Implementation of the conclusions of the General Secretary - Head of the Steering Committee after the 7th Session to date:

The contents outlined in the Conclusions of the 7th Session have been and are being actively and seriously implemented by the relevant agencies, basically on schedule.

3. Regarding the results of inspection, supervision, and monitoring of anti-corruption work in 2015 in 4 ministries and 10 provinces and centrally-administered cities.

In accordance with Plan No. 08-KH/TW dated March 12, 2012, of the Politburo on implementing Resolution No. 4 of the Central Committee (11th term) "Some urgent issues concerning Party building today," the Steering Committee established 7 working groups to inspect, supervise, and urge the work of preventing and combating corruption in 4 ministries, 10 provincial and city Party committees, and 108 agencies, organizations, and affiliated units. The members of the Steering Committee, who served as heads of the working groups, actively carried out their assigned tasks and completed them according to plan.

Through inspections, the working groups recommended that the Party committees of ministries and the standing committees of provincial and city Party committees be inspected, supervised, and urged to implement several key solutions to improve the effectiveness of anti-corruption work; they also recommended, and the Steering Committee agreed, to place 7 serious and complex cases under the monitoring and supervision of the Central Internal Affairs Commission; and 91 cases and incidents under the direction of the standing committees of provincial and city Party committees.

Practical experience shows that inspecting, monitoring, and urging the fight against corruption has a practical effect, helping to raise the sense of responsibility of Party committees, Party organizations, government agencies, organizations, units, and authorized individuals in preventing and combating corruption; helping to detect shortcomings and weaknesses so that timely corrective measures can be taken. This is an activity that needs to be carried out regularly.

4. Results of investigations, prosecutions, and trials of cases, and verification of incidents under the supervision and direction of the Steering Committee; monitored and supervised by the Central Internal Affairs Commission; and directed by provincial and city Party committees since the 7th meeting of the Steering Committee to date.

4.1. The Central Internal Affairs Commission - the Standing Agency of the Steering Committee - has actively coordinated with prosecuting agencies and functional ministries and sectors to resolve difficulties and obstacles, helping to accelerate the verification, investigation, prosecution, and trial of corruption cases under the Steering Committee's supervision and direction; the Central Internal Affairs Commission's monitoring and supervision; and provincial and city Party committees' guidance in handling; bringing 4 cases/42 defendants to trial at the first instance; 1 case/7 defendants to trial at the appellate level; preparing for 8 cases/63 defendants to trial at the first instance; and preparing for 7 cases/55 defendants to trial at the appellate level.

Actively conduct investigations to conclude the investigations and issue indictments for two cases that occurred at Ocean Commercial Bank and Vietnam Construction Commercial Bank.

4.2. Regarding proposals for inclusion, exclusion, and recommendations for handling certain cases and incidents: It was agreed to include 4 cases; exclude 1 case under the supervision and direction of the Steering Committee; include 7 cases under the supervision and urging of the Central Internal Affairs Committee; and include 91 cases and incidents under the direction and handling of provincial and city Party committees.

5. Regarding the 8 cases scheduled for trial before the 12th National Congress of the Party; recommendations on a coordination mechanism in prosecution and trial between the central and local levels; and a mechanism for providing information on legal violations by key officials in ministries, sectors, and localities.

5.1. The Steering Committee has agreed on the policy of bringing 08 key cases to trial before the 12th Party Congress, including: (1) the case of Lam Ngoc Khuan and accomplices; (2) the case of Pham Van Cu and accomplices; (3) the case of Tran Quoc Dong and accomplices; (4) the case of Duong Thanh Cuong and accomplices; (5) the case of Vu Quoc Hao and accomplices; (6) the case of Pham Thi Bich Luong and accomplices; (7) the case of Le Hung Son and accomplices; (8) the case of Nguyen The Dung and accomplices.

The Party Committee of the Central Public Security Ministry, the Party Committee of the Supreme People's Procuracy, and the Party Committee of the Supreme People's Court are directed to instruct central and local prosecuting agencies to actively coordinate and expedite the process to bring these cases to trial as planned.

5.2. The Steering Committee unanimously approved the Central Internal Affairs Commission's proposal on a coordination mechanism between central and local prosecution and judicial agencies. Effective implementation of this mechanism will address long-standing shortcomings in coordination between central and local judicial agencies in handling cases; it will reduce the number of cases returned for further investigation or reinvestigation, thus minimizing the time taken to process cases. The Central Internal Affairs Commission is tasked with leading and coordinating with the Party Committee of the Central Public Security Ministry, the Party Committee of the Supreme People's Procuracy, and the Party Committee of the Supreme People's Court to advise the Standing Committee of the Steering Committee on its implementation.

5.3. The Steering Committee unanimously agreed on the principle of assigning responsibility to relevant agencies during inspection, examination, auditing, investigation, prosecution, trial, and execution of judgments. If officials under the management of the Politburo and the Secretariat are found to have violated the law, they must promptly report to the Standing Committee of the Steering Committee. The Central Internal Affairs Commission is assigned to preside over and coordinate with relevant agencies to advise and propose to the Standing Committee of the Steering Committee on the implementation.

6. Regarding the Project "Strengthening the Party's leadership over the detection and handling of corruption cases and incidents in the current situation".

In recent times, efforts have been made to detect and handle corruption cases, but the results have not yet met the practical requirements and demands, as well as the expectations of cadres, Party members, and the people. Therefore, the development of a plan and a draft directive of the Politburo on "Strengthening the Party's leadership over the detection and handling of corruption cases in the current situation" is necessary.

The Central Internal Affairs Commission will preside over the process of receiving feedback from the members of the Steering Committee; continue to coordinate with relevant agencies to thoroughly review the scope, authority, and content of the draft Directive, and finalize the proposal to report to the Standing Committee of the Steering Committee for comments before submitting it to the Politburo.

7. Some notable achievements in the fight against corruption since the establishment of the Steering Committee under the Politburo to date:

Over the past three years, anti-corruption efforts have been implemented relatively comprehensively, focusing on both prevention and combating corruption, with clear priorities and key areas. The Steering Committee has selected difficult and problematic issues in anti-corruption work to focus on resolving; and identified key areas for guidance, inspection, supervision, and urging; contributing to relatively significant changes in anti-corruption work, specifically:

Firstly, strengthen inspection, supervision, and urging of anti-corruption work. The Steering Committee has established 25 working groups to inspect, supervise, and urge the prevention and detection and handling of corruption cases in 15 ministries and agencies and 29 localities.

Secondly, the Steering Committee has focused on directing: resolving difficulties and obstacles, accelerating the investigation and handling of serious and complex corruption cases that attract public attention; ensuring that suspended sentences in corruption cases are implemented in accordance with the law; gradually overcoming obstacles in forensic examination; researching and proposing solutions to improve the effectiveness of recovering assets obtained through corruption; researching solutions to further address harassment and petty corruption; strengthening and improving the effectiveness of coordination among relevant agencies in preventing and combating corruption; reviewing credit activities and some areas at high risk of corruption to proactively prevent and promptly address corruption.

Thirdly, the Steering Committee has directed and urged the development and improvement of socio-economic and anti-corruption institutions to create a comprehensive political and legal basis for anti-corruption efforts in the short and long term. Many important documents on anti-corruption and socio-economic management have been promptly developed, promulgated, or submitted to competent authorities for promulgation by competent agencies, helping to improve the effectiveness of anti-corruption work.

Fourth, the Steering Committee directs the strengthening of propaganda and education on anti-corruption, contributing to raising the sense of responsibility of Party committees, governments, agencies, organizations, units, officials, Party members, and the people towards anti-corruption work.

Fifthly, the Steering Committee focuses on directing and promoting the effectiveness of administrative reform, transparency in the operations of agencies, organizations, and units to improve the business environment, enhance the competitiveness of the economy, and contribute to preventing corruption.

Sixth, strengthen the leadership and guidance of the Party and the Steering Committee on anti-corruption work: Organize a national conference on anti-corruption work; pay attention to directing the consolidation of organizations and improving the quality and effectiveness of the internal affairs committees of provincial and city Party committees; direct the assignment of Party committee secretaries to directly oversee anti-corruption work, etc.

Seventh, the Steering Committee has focused on directing efforts to strengthen research, cooperation, and selectively adopt international experiences in preventing and combating corruption.

8. Regarding the results of implementing the recommendations of the working groups of the Steering Committee for inspection, supervision, and urging of anti-corruption work in 2013 and 2014.

In 2013 and 2014, the Steering Committee organized 18 working groups to inspect, supervise, and urge the implementation of anti-corruption work in 11 ministries and agencies and 19 provincial and city Party committees under the Central Government. Through these inspections, supervision, and urging, the working groups made 141 recommendations regarding leadership, direction, mechanisms, policies, laws, organizational structure, and the detection and handling of corruption; they also recommended that 126 serious, complex, difficult, and problematic corruption cases be placed under the Steering Committee's monitoring and direction; the Central Internal Affairs Commission's monitoring and urging; and the provincial and city Party committees' direction for handling. To ensure the serious implementation of the working groups' recommendations, the Steering Committee assigned the Central Internal Affairs Commission to inspect and urge the implementation of the aforementioned recommendations.

In fulfilling its assigned tasks, the Central Internal Affairs Commission – the Standing Agency of the Steering Committee – directly conducted inspections and monitored the implementation of recommendations in 7 ministries and agencies and 7 provincial and city Party committees under the Central Government. The results of self-inspections by the ministries, agencies, provinces, and cities, as well as the inspections and monitoring by the Central Internal Affairs Commission, show that most of the recommendations have been and are being seriously and effectively implemented by the ministries, agencies, and localities.

9. Regarding some difficulties and obstacles in forensic examination serving the investigation, prosecution, and trial of corruption and economic crimes.

In recent times, forensic examination work serving the investigation, prosecution, and trial of corruption and economic crimes has faced many difficulties and obstacles, affecting the progress and results of the investigation, prosecution, and trial of corruption and economic cases.

The Central Internal Affairs Commission shall proactively coordinate with the Party Committee of the Ministry of Justice (the Standing Agency of the Steering Committee for the implementation of the Project "Innovation and Improvement of the Effectiveness of Forensic Examination Activities" at the central level) to continue researching, advising, and proposing solutions to difficulties and obstacles in forensic examination serving the investigation, prosecution, and trial of corruption and economic crimes, and report to the Steering Committee.

10. Regarding the key tasks of anti-corruption work in the fourth quarter of 2015

The fourth quarter of 2015 was the time for the congresses of Party committees directly under the Central Committee and preparations for the 12th National Congress of the Party; it was also the time when ministries, sectors, and localities conducted reviews and assessments of the implementation of socio-economic development tasks for 2015 and the entire 2011-2015 term. Therefore, the fight against corruption also needed to focus on serving the aforementioned political tasks of the country.

The Steering Committee unanimously agreed on the five groups of tasks outlined in the draft report presented at the meeting, and also emphasized the following key tasks:

Firstly, continue to strengthen information and communication efforts on anti-corruption so that society and the people understand the efforts and achievements in anti-corruption work during the past term; the difficulties and challenges of anti-corruption work in the future; and clearly demonstrate the political determination of the Party and the State towards the task of preventing and combating corruption.

Secondly, in addition to continuing to improve the socio-economic management institutions to prevent corruption; and the legal regulations on anti-corruption, relevant agencies need to advise on organizing preliminary and comprehensive reviews and evaluations of the results of implementing the Party and State's regulations on anti-corruption in the past, thereby proposing and recommending adjustments, additions, and amendments to suit the specific conditions of the country.

Thirdly, continue to direct and strengthen the detection and handling of corruption cases; focus on accelerating the progress of handling serious and complex corruption cases under the supervision and direction of the Steering Committee; under the supervision and urging of the Central Internal Affairs Commission; and under the direction of provincial and city Party committees; especially outstanding and long-standing corruption and economic cases that have not been definitively resolved; bringing to trial the 8 key cases before the 12th Party Congress; and holding heads of agencies accountable when corruption occurs.

Fourth, focus on completing the Program, Plan, and key Projects of the Steering Committee for 2015; direct the organization of a preliminary review of the Steering Committee's activities over the past three years; summarize the anti-corruption work in 2015 and set forth directions and tasks for anti-corruption work in 2016 and for the entire 2016-2020 term.

According to Chinhphu.vn