Preventing and fighting corruption: Going to the core of the behavior

Overview of the 23rd meeting of the Central Steering Committee on preventing and combating corruption and negativity.

Prevention and fight against negative corruption have made progress and achieved higher efficiency.

Chairing the 23rd meeting of the Central Steering Committee on Anti-Corruption and Negative Practices (Steering Committee), General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong - Head of the Steering Committee affirmed that the fight against corruption and negative practices has made more and more progress, with higher efficiency, and gained more experience to continue to do better in the task of fighting "internal invaders", recognized by the people, party members and cadres nationwide, and international friends.

The results show that in 2022, 539 party members were disciplined for corruption and intentional violations. The Central Executive Committee, the Politburo, the Secretariat, and the Central Inspection Commission disciplined 47 officials under the management of the Politburo and the Secretariat (an increase of 15 cases compared to the previous year); dismissed 5 officials from the position of Central Party Committee member (13th term); dismissed 2 Deputy Prime Ministers, 3 Deputy Ministers and equivalent, and 1 Chairman of the Vietnam National Coal - Mineral Industries Group (TKV).

In 2022, nationwide, 493 new cases/1,123 defendants were prosecuted for corruption (an increase of 163 cases/328 defendants compared to 2021). Particularly, the cases and incidents under the supervision of the Steering Committee were directed to prosecute 11 new cases/37 defendants, and a number of key cases were promptly tried according to the Steering Committee's plan, including the cases that occurred at AIC, Bach Mai Hospital, Nha Trang Center 2 Project, the Drug Administration Department - Ministry of Health, units under the Coast Guard Command, Border Guard; Dong Nai, Tan Thuan Investment and Construction Company Limited.

Along with that, the work of recovering corrupt and negative assets has achieved many results. The prosecution agencies have temporarily detained, seized, and frozen accounts worth over VND 364,000 billion (an increase of more than 10 times compared to 2021); the civil enforcement agency has recovered VND 27,400 billion (a 3-fold increase compared to 2021).

The fight against corruption and negativity is carried out in a very humane, just, benevolent and humane manner, but still with enough deterrence and education, and prevention is the main focus. "The punishment must be severe in accordance with the provisions of the law and in accordance with conscience and sentiment, not just harsh punishment is good," said General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

The results of the fight against corruption and negativity in 2022 were also affirmed by Deputy Head of the Central Internal Affairs Commission Nguyen Thai Hoc at the press conference to inform the results of the 23rd meeting of the Steering Committee on the afternoon of January 12.

Mr. Nguyen Thai Hoc said that at the meeting, the General Secretary affirmed the great progress in many aspects in preventing and fighting corruption and negativity, which is reflected in the awareness and determination of the entire army and people to fight against "internal invaders". From major, serious and complicated cases, we have a deeper and more complete awareness of corruption and negativity with all levels, sophistication, complexity and serious harm.

Deputy Head of the Central Internal Affairs Commission Nguyen Thai Hoc informed at a press conference on the afternoon of January 12.

That great step forward is also reflected in the in-depth investigation and clarification of the nature of corruption and negativity and the resolute and strict handling of violations, even if the subject has fled abroad, they will still be tried in absentia according to the provisions of the law.

“For a long time, we have rarely been able to prosecute the crime of giving and receiving bribes, but usually only prosecute the crime of lack of responsibility or intentional wrongdoing. But recently, we have gone to the bottom of the nature of corruption and negative behavior, which is giving and receiving bribes, corruption with all its harmful and serious nature. This is a new step forward in the fight against corruption and negative behavior,” said Mr. Nguyen Thai Hoc, through the trial in absentia of defendants who committed crimes but fled abroad, demonstrating the Party’s determination. Once you have violated the law and become a criminal, no matter where you hide, you cannot escape the punishment of the law.

Those who were dealt with were convinced.

According to Deputy Head of the Central Internal Affairs Commission, at the meeting, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong emphasized that progress in the fight against corruption and negativity is also reflected in the increasingly methodical, systematic, more certain and convincing way of doing things, with Party discipline coming first, administrative discipline, and then criminal handling.

“The persuasiveness is shown in the fact that not only the Party and the people agree and support, but even those who are being punished are convinced. Recently, those who fled abroad also wrote letters asking to be punished by the law. The defendants confessed very honestly how much money they received, what they did, what they used it for, and asked the law to consider it. This is very convincing. This result did not come naturally, but it was the result of a systematic, systematic, and solid struggle by the authorities,” said Mr. Nguyen Thai Hoc.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong speaks at the meeting.

According to Mr. Nguyen Thai Hoc, the new step in preventing and fighting corruption and negativity is also reflected in the close and synchronous coordination between central authorities in the process of inspection, examination, auditing, investigation, prosecution, trial, and execution of sentences, and the close and synchronous coordination between the central and local levels.

The General Secretary said: As the Central Committee directs the fight against corruption and negativity, many Steering Committees at the provincial level are also determined and make efforts to direct in the same way. As a result, in 2022, localities across the country discovered and prosecuted 453 corruption cases (1.5 times higher than in 2021); many localities have prosecuted major corruption and negativity cases, related to officials under the management of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and the City Party Committee, including members of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and the City Party Committee; Vice Chairmen of the Provincial People's Committee. Regarding the case that occurred at Viet A Company, up to now, 24 localities have prosecuted 27 cases/68 defendants.

“Through the fight against corruption and negativity, the Party is affirmed to be stronger, discipline and order are strengthened, and people's trust in the Party and the regime is affirmed and promoted. This is very important,” said Mr. Nguyen Thai Hoc. The more we do, the more valuable experience we have in handling specialized and closed crimes in many fields such as securities, government bonds, banking, etc. At the same time, we will gradually handle the responsibility of leaders so that agencies, units, and subordinates do wrong; initially determine responsibility and handle related officials in building and perfecting institutions. If officials are responsible for advising on incorrect or incomplete legal documents, allowing corruption and negativity to occur, then responsibility will also be determined for handling./.