Nghe An determined to prevent and fight corruption and negativity

Number of defendants increased by more than 300%

Since its establishment, the Steering Committee for Anti-Corruption and Negativity of Nghe An province has played a good role as "commander-in-chief" in regulating and coordinating between functional agencies.prevent corruption and negativityin the locality. Comrade Thai Thanh Quy - Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council, Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation, Head of the Provincial Steering Committee on preventing and combating corruption and negativity once emphasized the four mottos of action: "Awareness must be mature; ideology must be clear; determination must be great and method must be correct".

With that motto, efficiency has been increasingly improved, not only at the commune level, but many cases in provincial departments and branches have been investigated and clarified by competent authorities; especially cases related to officials and civil servants.abuse of position and powerwhile performing official duties; or abusing position and power to appropriate property.

For example, the case of "Abusing position and power while performing official duties" at the Department of Planning and Investment was brought to trial in February 2023. The former Head of the Business Registration Office, along with 1 specialist of the Department of Planning and Investment, 1 specialist of the Provincial Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion Center received appropriate penalties for violating the law. Or the case of "Abusing position and power while performing official duties" at the Dien Chau District Agricultural Service Center was brought to trial by the People's Court of this district at the end of April, with sentences ranging from 15 months to 36 months of suspended imprisonment for the former leaders and officials of the Center, including the Director, accountant and 1 official.

In the near future, a series of corruption cases in a number of localities, departments and branches, such as cases of abuse of position and power while performing official duties occurring at the Department of Construction, the Department of Fisheries (Department of Agriculture and Rural Development), the Branch of the Land Registration Office of Thai Hoa town, etc., will continue to be brought to trial.

From its establishment to June 2023, the Provincial Steering Committee for Anti-Corruption and Negativity has brought 15 complicated corruption and negativity cases and incidents that have been of public concern in the area to be monitored and directed, such as: The case related to the project of building a hotel complex, a supermarket trading in pharmaceuticals, medical equipment and housing in Nghi Phu commune, Vinh city, invested by Minh Khang Trading Company Limited; the case of "Taking advantage of position and power while performing official duties" that occurred at the Department of Fisheries (Department of Agriculture and Rural Development); the case of "Giving, brokering, receiving bribes" that occurred at the Nghe An Provincial Motor Vehicle Inspection Center (facility 37-01S in Vinh city and facility 37-02S in Thai Hoa town); the case of "Violating regulations on management and use of State assets causing loss and waste" that occurred at Truong Son Residential Cluster, Cua Nam ward, Vinh city. Vinh; the case of "Giving and receiving bribes" occurred at the Management Board of Nghia Dan District Construction Investment Projects; the case of "Receiving bribes; brokering bribes and taking advantage of positions and powers while performing official duties" occurred at a number of Land Registration Offices in the province; the case of "Taking advantage of positions and powers while performing official duties" occurred at the Department of Construction; the case of "Giving and receiving bribes" occurred at the Nam Can International Border Gate Customs Branch; the case of "Abusing positions and powers to appropriate property" occurred at the Management Board of Tuong Duong District Construction Investment Projects;...

According to statistics of the People's Committee of Nghe An province, during the period (from December 15, 2022 to May 31, 2023), the investigation agencies actively verified and prosecuted many corruption cases. The number of corruption cases and defendants discovered during the period was 20 cases/91 defendants, an increase of 10 cases, 70 defendants; an increase of 100% in the number of cases, an increase of 333% in the number of defendants compared to the same period in 2022.

Focus on weak and difficult links

The Provincial Steering Committee for Anti-Corruption and Negativity has comprehensively and synchronously deployed tasks and solutions to prevent and combat corruption and negativity; both prevention, detection and handling; with focus and key points; concentrating on weak and difficult stages, areas prone to corruption and negativity, with many petitions, complaints, denunciations, and public outrage to direct resolution, ensuring clear and practical results, avoiding formalities; at the same time, ensuring strict, synchronous, and timely handling between Party discipline and administrative and criminal handling of violating cadres and Party members.

Last June, the Central Steering Committee on Anti-Corruption and Negativity held a Conference to evaluate the results of 1 year of operation of the Provincial Steering Committee; thereby, Nghe An was recognized as one of the localities with many new prosecutions related to corruption, with 33 cases in the past year; of which, 40 cadres and party members were prosecuted.

In the coming time, it is forecasted that the situation of corruption and negativity will still develop complicatedly, with officials and civil servants still abusing their positions and powers for personal gain and group interests; especially petty corruption is developing and infiltrating agencies and units, causing public anger and dissatisfaction.

Deeply understandthe guiding spirit of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trongis to "promote more strongly, more resolutely, and more effectively" in the already difficult and complicated fight against corruption and negativity; the Standing Committee and the Provincial Party Committee focus on directing preventive solutions and fighting resolutely not only against corrupt acts, but also against negative acts, or even just showing signs of corruption and negativity among cadres and civil servants.

Most recently, the Provincial Steering Committee for Administrative Reform pointed out: Some officials in the specialized departments of the Department of Construction and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment have been reported by public opinion to have caused trouble and harassment in the performance of public duties. Thereby, requiring all levels and sectors in the political system to resolutely replace and transfer cases of stagnation, weakness, violations of public ethics or negative public opinion in the performance of public duties; in particular, proactively coordinate with the Provincial Steering Committee on anti-corruption and negativity, the Provincial Party Committee's Inspection Committee in grasping and verifying public opinion information, and handling officials who violate administrative reform and public ethics.