Nghe An 'directly eliminates' corrupt officials and civil servants from the apparatus

Sad stories

In recent years, although not many, in Nghe An province there have been cases of officials and civil servants being investigated, prosecuted, and tried for being involved in corrupt acts such as abuse of power and position, appropriation of property, abuse of power in the performance of official duties, embezzlement of property, bribery, etc.

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

Typically: On July 14, 2019, the Nghi Loc District Police Investigation Agency issued Decision to prosecute criminal case No. 82 on the crime of "Embezzlement of property" prescribed in Article 353 of the Penal Code occurring at Nghi Van Secondary School, Nghi Loc District. Then, on December 23, 2019 and January 17, 2020, three defendants were prosecuted: Vuong Thi Nga - born in 1968, former Accounting officer of Nghi Van Secondary School; Le Thi Tu, born in 1964, former Treasurer of Nghi Van Secondary School for the crime of "Embezzlement of property" prescribed in Article 353 of the 2015 Penal Code (amended and supplemented in 2017); Dau Thi Tan - former Principal of Nghi Van Secondary School for the crime of "Lack of responsibility causing serious consequences" prescribed in Article 285 of the Penal Code.

According to the investigation, these subjects created fake records for payment of regime amounts (salaries, allowances) for cadres and teachers; did not properly implement the principles of cash collection and disbursement at the school... causing a loss of VND 1,547,454,000 to the State.

In another case, on March 11, 2020, the Investigation Police Agency of Tan Ky District Police initiated a case and prosecuted the defendant Le Thi Luu, born in 1985, residing in Tan An Commune, Tan Ky District, former teller of Tan An Post Office under Tan Ky District Post Office, who took advantage of her position to appropriate 7 billion VND in property from 15 individuals.

Authorities read the arrest warrant for Mr. Kim Van Bon. Photo: Trong Tuan

Recently, on July 21, 2020, the Investigation Police Agency of Nghe An Province issued a decision to prosecute the case, prosecute the accused, and temporarily detain Mr. Kim Van Bon, an officer of the Policy Department, Ethnic Minorities Committee of Nghe An Province, residing at Golden City 6 Apartment Building, Nghi Phu Commune, Vinh City, to investigate the act of embezzlement of property. According to the initial investigation results, during the implementation of the O Du Ethnic Socio-Economic Development Project in Vang Mon Village, Nga My Commune, Tuong Duong District, Mr. Kim Van Bon took advantage of his assigned position and authority to create fake documents to withdraw money from the project. The investigation agency determined that the amount of money that Mr. Bon appropriated was up to hundreds of millions of VND, causing particularly serious damage to State property. During the search, the authorities seized a number of related papers and documents.

The police searched Mr. Nguyen Tam Long's workplace at the Provincial Ethnic Minorities Committee on July 23, 2020. Photo: Duc Vu

During the extended investigation into the case of "Asset embezzlement" that occurred at the Ethnic Minorities Committee of Nghe An province, on July 30, 2020, the Investigation Police Agency also issued decisions to prosecute the case of "Abusing position and power while performing official duties", prosecuting 3 defendants including: Nguyen Tam Long (born in 1974), Acting Head of the Ethnic Policy Department, Ethnic Minorities Committee of Nghe An province; Le Van Son (born in 1962), Director of Van Son Construction Joint Stock Company and Nguyen Dinh Thinh, born in 1981, Deputy Director of Van Son Construction Joint Stock Company. In addition, defendant Nguyen Tam Long, Acting Head of the Ethnic Policy Department (Ethnic Minorities Committee of Nghe An province) was also prosecuted for the crime of "Lack of responsibility causing serious consequences". Currently, the case is being further investigated and clarified by the competent authorities.

The above incidents are sad stories about public ethics, manifestations of “self-evolution” and “self-transformation” of cadres and party members. These incidents not only cause economic losses, affect the reputation of party organizations and the state apparatus, but also create negative public opinion in society.

In the first 6 months of 2020, through investigation, prosecution and trial of corruption cases, the authorities discovered damages of more than VND 35.03 billion, including VND 17.06 billion and 196,378 m2 of land (equivalent to more than VND 17.97 billion); of which VND 9.63/VND 17.06 billion (56.44%) were recovered.

Remove from the apparatus officials and civil servants who violate the law

In recent times, with the focused and drastic leadership and direction of the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee, the work of preventing corruption, especially measures to prevent harassment and inconvenience to people and businesses in handling work, has been implemented synchronously. This includes implementing publicity and transparency in the activities of agencies, organizations and units, especially in the following areas: Management of construction investment, public procurement and basic construction; state budget finance; mobilization and use of people's contributed assets; land use management; housing management and use; Building and implementing codes of conduct for cadres, civil servants and public employees, transferring work positions, controlling budget revenue and expenditure; promoting administrative reform; Strengthening legal inspection on corruption prevention and control...

The Provincial Party Committee's Internal Affairs Committee inspected and reviewed the socio-economic inspection conclusions in Hoang Mai town. Photo: Le Thuy

However, according to the report assessing the anti-corruption work in the first 6 months of 2020, some groups of solutions to prevent corruption have not been effective, specifically: the work of detecting corruption through internal inspection and examination activities has been strengthened but no corruption cases have been detected and transferred to the investigation agency. The rate of assets damaged by corruption recovered during the period is low; land damage due to corruption has not been recovered, the implementation of regulations on giving and receiving gifts has not been effective, the transparent declaration of assets and income has not been implemented because the Government has not issued documents to implement...

Recently, the People's Committee of Nghe An province issued Official Dispatch No. 4754/UBND-TD dated July 22, 2020, directing the directors, heads of provincial departments, branches and sectors and the chairmen of the People's Committees of districts, cities and towns to carry out inspection, anti-corruption work and resolve complaints and denunciations in the last months of 2020. The Provincial People's Committee requested the heads of agencies and units to focus on synchronously implementing solutions according to the provisions of the Law on Anti-Corruption, especially Directive No. 10/CT-TTg dated April 22, 2019 of the Prime Minister on strengthening the handling and effective prevention of harassment and inconvenience to people and businesses in handling work. Resolutely handle and remove from the apparatus those officials and civil servants who commit acts of corruption and harassment when handling work.

The dispatch also requires inspection agencies and agencies assigned with specialized inspection functions to urgently develop an inspection program orientation for 2021 to ensure focus and key points, meeting requirements on corruption prevention and control, focusing on the fields of land, construction, equitization of state-owned enterprises, investment, public asset procurement; exploitation of resources and minerals...

Chairman of the Provincial Party Committee's Inspection Commission inspects the project to build an embankment to prevent landslides on the right bank of Nam Cam River and a place to anchor boats to avoid natural disasters in Nghi Tan Ward (Cua Lo Town). Photo courtesy of Dao Tuan

Previously, on November 13, 2019, Nghe An Provincial Party Committee also issued Official Dispatch No. 5192 CV-TU on implementing the conclusions of General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong. In particular, it requested the Provincial Party Committee's Party Building Committee, Provincial Party Committee's Inspection Committee, Party Executive Committee, Party Delegation, Fatherland Front and mass organizations at the provincial, district, city, town levels, and affiliated Party Committees to focus on directing the handling of economic and corruption cases that are of public interest and are being handled unfinished; lead and direct the implementation of strict disciplinary action against corrupt officials and civil servants who harass and extort, causing trouble for people and businesses in the process of handling administrative procedures. Effectively prevent the abuse of positions and powers in performing duties and public duties for personal gain.

In particular, with the spirit of "must fight corruption first and foremost in anti-corruption agencies", Official Dispatch 5192 of Nghe An Provincial Party Committee also requested "Strengthening inspection and supervision of the activities of agencies and units with anti-corruption functions; strictly handling negative and corrupt acts during the process of inspection, investigation, prosecution, trial, and execution of sentences; promptly replacing officials who lack qualifications and ethics...".

These instructions demonstrate Nghe An's determination in the fight against corruption, improving the effectiveness and efficiency of public service activities, and cleaning up the apparatus. However, as Uncle Ho pointed out during his lifetime: "Corruption, waste, and bureaucracy are enemies within." Therefore, for the fight against corruption to be truly effective, each cadre and party member must know how to set an example, practice, cultivate, and improve public service ethics, and wipe out "Individualism" - one of the causes of corruption that Uncle Ho pointed out.

The 2018 Law on Anti-Corruption stipulates acts of corruption in the state sector committed by people holding positions and powers in state agencies, organizations and units, including: Embezzlement of property; Receiving bribes; Abuse of position and power to appropriate property; Abuse of position and power while performing duties and public services for personal gain; Abuse of power while performing duties and public services for personal gain; Abuse of position and power to influence others for personal gain; Forgery in work for personal gain; Bribery or bribery brokerage to resolve work of agencies, organizations, units or localities for personal gain; Abuse of position and power to illegally use public assets for personal gain; Harassment for personal gain; failure to perform, improper or incomplete performance of duties and public services for personal gain; Abuse of position and power to cover up for people who violate the law for personal gain; Illegally obstructing or interfering with supervision, inspection, examination, auditing, investigation, prosecution, trial, and execution of judgments for personal gain.