Do not cover up or condone inspectors 'extorting' money

Minister of Construction Pham Hong Ha confirmed this when responding to the press about the information that Vinh Phuc Provincial Police made a record of the act of extortion and temporarily detained many officials in the Ministry of Construction's inspection team when conducting an inspection in Vinh Tuong district (Vinh Phuc).

Minister Pham Hong Ha said that this morning, the Ministry of Construction sent a press release to news agencies, the Central Propaganda Department, the Ministry of Information and Communications, and the Central Inspection Committee.

The Minister of Construction said that according to the report of the Ministry Inspectorate, on June 12, the Vinh Phuc Provincial Police made a record of violations against an inspection team of the Ministry of Construction who was working in Vinh Tuong district of this province. The inspection team conducted the inspection as part of the Ministry of Construction's inspection plan for 2019.

Regarding personnel work, Mr. Pham Hong Ha said that in recent years, the Ministry of Construction has always paid attention to, directed and implemented many solutions to build a clean team of inspectors of the ministry as well as improve the quality of operations and inspection efficiency according to the provisions of law.

The Chief Inspector of the Ministry of Construction also issued regulations on inspection of the ministry, working regulations of the inspection team as well as regulations on supervising the activities of the inspection team; instructions to improve the responsibility and public ethics of inspection officers.

Minister of Construction Pham Hong Ha answers the press in the hallway of the National Assembly, afternoon of June 13.

“It can be said that we have implemented many solutions, so it is very regrettable that this incident happened. The Ministry of Construction is directing the ministry's inspectors to coordinate with the relevant agencies to clarify more information. After receiving the conclusion from the relevant agencies, the attitude of the Ministry of Construction is to resolutely direct the handling and not cover up or tolerate any individual who violates the provisions of the law" - Mr. Pham Hong Ha emphasized and said that he will continue to monitor the incident and will inform the press about the situation and handling results.

"After this incident, how will the ministry rectify the inspection team to avoid unfortunate incidents?" - In response to this question, the Minister of Construction said that there will be solutions to continue to rectify the activities of the ministry's inspection to ensure further improvement in inspection quality and more closely control the performance of official duties by the ministry's inspection officers to ensure that violations are minimized.

“The Ministry of Construction always pays attention to direction. The Ministry is determined to handle officials who violate regulations” - Minister Pham Hong Ha once again emphasized.

In a press release on the morning of June 13, Chief of Office of the Ministry of Construction Ta Quang Vinh said that, implementing the Inspection Plan of the Ministry of Construction Inspectorate in 2019 according to Decision No. 1369/QD-BXD of the Minister of Construction, currently, the Ministry of Construction Inspectorate has an inspection team on planning work in Vinh Tuong district, Vinh Phuc province according to the plan approved by the Minister.

Regarding the incident reported by the press, Mr. Ta Quang Vinh said that the Ministry of Construction continues to direct the Ministry Inspectorate to coordinate with relevant agencies to monitor and grasp the situation.

Responding to the press, Mr. Vu Duc Kim - Chief of Office of Vinh Tuong District People's Committee said that the Provincial Police have worked with the Economic - Infrastructure Department and other departments and offices of the district to verify and clarify the case of the Ministry of Construction Inspectorate being recorded for extorting money.

Provincial police are detaining at least five members of the inspection team to assist in the investigation.