Nghe An determines there are no 'no-go zones' in preventing and fighting corruption

Detect and handle many cases

Recently, the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial People's Committee have regularly directed competent agencies to inspect, detect, and strictly handle serious and complicated corruption and economic cases that have attracted public attention. Some casescorruptionrelated to cadres, party members, and people in positions have been discovered and handled promptly.

Typically, on January 13, 2021, the Nghe An Police Investigation Agency prosecuted the corruption case of "Taking advantage of position and power while performing official duties" that occurred at the People's Committee of Nghi Tien Commune (Nghi Loc), prosecuting 03 defendants including: Luu Quang Thuong, born in 1954, former Chairman of the People's Committee of Nghi Tien Commune; Tran Cong Oanh, born in 1960, former Secretary and Chairman of the People's Committee of Nghi Tien Commune, Nguyen Van Hong, born in 1980, former cadastral civil servant of Nghi Tien Commune.

Subjects Tran Cong Oanh - Luu Quang Thuong - Nguyen Van Hong. Photo courtesy of Vuong Linh

According to the investigation: During the period from 2014 to 2018, the above subjects had created false records in implementing the support regime for people whose crop and aquaculture areas were damaged by natural disasters in the area, causing damage of more than 720 million VND. Currently, the case is being further investigated and expanded.

Then, on January 20, 2021, the Investigation Police Agency of Quy Hop District Police initiated a case of "Abusing position and power while performing official duties" that occurred at the Quy Hop Protective Forest Management Board, prosecuting 02 defendants: Le Phung Dieu, born in 1973, former Head of the Quy Hop Protective Forest Management Board; Nguyen Hong Linh, born in 1969, former Deputy Head of the Quy Hop Protective Forest Management Board. Initial investigation determined that in June 2020, the above subjects took advantage of their positions and powers to direct and organize the sale and allow the exploitation of 368 acacia trees (volume 227.363m3), causing a loss of VND 341,044,500.

Police searched Le Phung Dieu's workplace. Photo courtesy of Tien Hung

In another case, on March 8, 2021, the Investigation Police Agency of Hung Nguyen District initiated a case and prosecuted Mr. Dinh Huu Hanh, born in 1961, residing in Hamlet 6, Hung Yen Nam Commune, Hung Nguyen District for the crime of "Abuse of power while performing official duties". According to investigation documents, in 2016, implementing Directive 08-CT/TU dated May 8, 2012 of the Party Central Committee's Standing Committee on "land consolidation and plot exchange", the People's Committee of Hung Yen Nam Commune completed the Steering Committee for land consolidation and plot exchange of the commune. The Steering Committee in Hamlet 9 consists of Mr. Dinh Huu Hanh, Hamlet Chief as Team Leader and a number of members.

During the conversion process, Mr. Hanh sold 11 plots of land (rice land) with a total area of ​​10,850 m2 (agricultural land) to 10 people in Hamlet 9 (now Hamlet 6, Hung Yen Nam Commune) for 636 million VND, and collected 490 million VND. Mr. Hanh's actions exceeded the limits of his authority, violated his assigned duties, and caused damage to the State's interests in land management.

Nghe An Police Department of Investigation issued a decision to prosecute Mr. Luong Thanh Hai - Former Head of the Provincial Ethnic Minorities Committee. Photo: Thuy Anh

Regarding violations in the implementation of the O Du ethnic socio-economic development project invested by the Ethnic Minority Committee of Nghe An province, in the first 6 months of 2021, the authorities have prosecuted 2 new suspects. Specifically: On April 19, 2021, the Investigation Police Agency of Nghe An province prosecuted Luong Thanh Hai, born in 1962, former Head of the Ethnic Minority Committee of Nghe An province for the crimes of "Lack of responsibility causing serious consequences" and "Abusing position and power while performing official duties". Then, on May 6, 2021, prosecuted Chu Thi Thuy Khanh, born in 1974, former Chief Accountant of the Ethnic Minority Committee of the province for the crime of "Abusing position and power while performing official duties", applying the preventive measure of prohibiting her from leaving her place of residence. Currently, the case is being further investigated according to regulations.

In the first 6 months of 2021, the investigation agencies at all levels in the province have accepted to investigate 04 cases/12 defendants (of which 01 old case/4 defendants was transferred, 03 new cases/8 defendants were accepted). The People's Procuracy at 2 levels accepted to resolve 01 case/03 defendants (of which 01 new case/03 defendants was accepted). The People's Courts at all levels accepted to try 02 cases/07 defendants. Currently, 01 case/6 defendants has been tried, the remaining 01 case/01 defendant has not been tried. Through the investigation, prosecution and trial of corruption cases, it was discovered that the damage of more than 2,955 billion VND and 10,850 m2 of land has been recovered; of which 1,898/2,955 billion VND (reaching a rate of 64.2%).

Get in sync

Implementing Conclusion No. 10 of the Politburo on continuing to implement Resolution No. 3 of the Central Committee (10th tenure) on "Strengthening the Party's leadership in the work of preventing and combating corruption and waste; Directive No. 50-CT/TW of the Politburo on strengthening the Party's leadership in the work of detecting and handling corruption cases; Directive No. 10/CT-TTg of the Prime Minister on strengthening the handling and effectively preventing harassment and trouble for people and businesses in handling work.

Under the direction of the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee, anti-corruption measures have been implemented synchronously. In 2021, the Provincial People's Committee issued 02 Plans and 5 documents directing agencies and units to carry out anti-corruption work, including directing the first-time control of assets and income at 85 focal units under the management authority of the Provincial People's Committee. According to statistics, 2,227 agencies, organizations and units have organized the declaration of assets and income with a total of 19,731 declarants (reaching a rate of 99.9%).

The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested a comprehensive inspection of the hotel, supermarket, pharmacy, medical and housing complex project in Nghi Phu commune, Vinh city to thoroughly handle the shortcomings and violations of the project and of state management. Photo: Document

Attention has also been paid to the inspection, settlement of complaints and denunciations and post-inspection handling. In the first 6 months of 2021, through inspection work, a total value of violations of VND 30,088 billion was discovered, resulting in the recovery of VND 7,717 billion (reaching a rate of 84.2%) and 327 m2 of land; other handling of VND 9,992 billion. In addition, the entire Inspection sector has conducted 45 public service inspections, inspections of the responsibilities of heads at all levels and sectors in implementing legal provisions on inspection, complaints, denunciations and anti-corruption at 54 units. Thereby, recommendations were made to review and draw lessons for 14 organizations and 104 individuals with violations.

To prevent corruption, in addition to requiring agencies and units to be transparent in their operations; implementing solutions to change job positions and pay salaries via accounts, the Provincial People's Committee directed to review and reduce the time to handle administrative procedures, simplify administrative procedures at agencies and units. In the first 6 months of the year, 121 administrative procedures had their time reduced, with a total time reduction of 760 days.

At the provincial level, the reception and settlement of administrative procedures by departments, branches and sectors at the Public Administration Service Center has been strictly controlled through the Public Service Portal and the Provincial Electronic One-Stop Information System to ensure transparency, clarity and punctuality, which has initially been highly appreciated by people and businesses. As of May 18, 2021, the Center has settled 62,117 records, of which 59,379 records were returned on time and before the scheduled date (accounting for 95.6%), and 2,738 records were returned late (accounting for 4.4%).

Handling administrative procedures at the public administrative service center of Nghe An province. Photo courtesy

It is worth noting that, in the fight against corruption in the province, in addition to the participation of the entire political system and the efforts of the authorities, there is also the support of press and media agencies, and especially the important role of the masses and people in providing information and denouncing violations in state management activities of officials and civil servants; denouncing economic violations, corruption... contributing to repelling corruption in the area. The Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Nghe An province also regularly pays attention to the work of receiving citizens, handling complaints and denunciations of citizens; promoting the role of the People's Inspectorate and Public Investment Supervision Board in supervising programs, projects, land management, economic and social policies in localities. Through supervision, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committees at all levels have made recommendations on many issues related to corruption prevention and control, thrift practice and waste prevention.

According to Mr. Tran Van Lam - Head of the Legal Democracy Committee (Provincial Fatherland Front): In 2021, the Provincial Fatherland Front plans to carry out specialized supervision of personnel work in the three districts of Quynh Luu, Ky Son, and Tuong Duong and supervise the implementation of complaint and denunciation settlement by the Chairmen of the People's Committees of three localities including Tan Ky, Do Luong and Thai Hoa town.

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

Currently, facing difficulties due to the system of mechanisms and policies on anti-corruption that are not yet truly synchronous, in some areas there are still loopholes, the impact of the negative side of the market mechanism affects the ideology and lifestyle of a number of cadres, civil servants, public employees... In addition to directing the timely review, amendment and supplementation of state management regulations on capital construction investment; mineral and land management; financial and budget management; auction of land use rights... to limit the exploitation of loopholes in the law to carry out corrupt acts.

The Provincial Steering Committee for Anti-Corruption has determined: Focus on leading and directing the strengthening of the Party's inspection and supervision work, and inspection work in sensitive areas to promptly detect and strictly handle acts of corruption. At the same time, promote training and fostering, improve capacity, professional qualifications, and political mettle for cadres and civil servants working in anti-corruption work. Because to fight effectively, first of all, the cadres involved in this work must be truly clean and honest.