General Secretary: In 2018, 21 cases were completed and 21 corruption cases were handled.

The announcement from the Party Central Office said that on January 22, 2018, in Hanoi, the Central Steering Committee on Anti-Corruption (Steering Committee) held its 13th plenary meeting under the chairmanship of General Secretary - Head of the Steering Committee Nguyen Phu Trong to review and evaluate the results of activities in 2017; and give opinions on the directions and tasks for 2018.

The General Secretary directed the 13th meeting of the Central Steering Committee on Anti-Corruption. Photo: VNA

1 year sentenced 4 death sentences, 7 life sentences for corruption crimes

First of all, looking back at 2017, the General Secretary assessed that the work of preventing and combating corruption has been directed to be implemented vigorously and resolutely, achieving many comprehensive, positive and clear results, leaving a good impression, being highly welcomed, supported and agreed upon by the people, creating a positive effect, spreading strongly throughout society.

Inspection committees at all levels have focused on checking for signs of violations in more than 3,600 party organizations and nearly 10,400 party members. Party committees and inspection committees at all levels have disciplined more than 300 party organizations and more than 18,600 party members, including more than 700 party members who violated corruption and intentionally violated the law.

The Party Central Committee, the Politburo, and the Secretariat disciplined 3 Party organizations and 11 officials. The Central Inspection Committee focused on inspecting and disciplining 18 officials according to its authority; many of which were particularly serious cases involving senior officials of the Party, the State, and a number of Party committees and organizations.

The General Secretary affirmed that this is a breakthrough in the Party's inspection and discipline work, tightening discipline and order within the Party and State apparatus.

Inspection and audit agencies at all levels have focused on inspecting and auditing areas with many negative public opinions and corruption, discovering 50 cases involving corruption; recommending the recovery of VND43,321 billion; recommending administrative disciplinary action against 2,093 groups and individuals; and transferring 114 cases and 192 subjects to investigation agencies for handling.

The agencies have conducted comprehensive inspections of 4 projects, reviewed the inspection of 7 projects that caused large and prolonged losses and were of public concern. Through the audit, recommendations were made to collect 15,222 billion VND for the state budget, and transferred files and recommended competent authorities to investigate 5 cases with signs of criminal law violations.

The Central Steering Committee on Anti-Corruption organized 8 inspection teams to supervise the inspection of cases; prosecution, investigation, prosecution, and trial of serious and complicated corruption and economic cases of public concern in 20 localities.

The Head of the Steering Committee also emphasized the results of accelerating the investigation, prosecution, and strict and timely trial of many particularly serious and complicated corruption and economic cases that have attracted public attention, with severe and humane sentences.

Accordingly, many difficulties and obstacles have been resolved, such as in assessing evidence, determining crimes, appraising property values, capturing fugitives, etc., to speed up the handling of serious and complicated corruption and economic cases.

Specifically, in 2017, there were 16 cases, 10 of which were concluded. The authorities prosecuted 12 cases/172 defendants; tried 5 cases/73 defendants at first instance (sentencing: 3 defendants to death; 3 defendants to life imprisonment; 62 defendants to less than 30 years in prison); tried 6 cases/80 defendants at appeal (sentencing: 2 defendants to death; 4 defendants to life imprisonment; 3 defendants to 30 years in prison; 71 defendants to less than 30 years in prison). The seizure and confiscation of assets in some cases was quite high.

The General Secretary emphasized the focus on leadership and direction in promptly bringing to trial a number of particularly serious and complicated corruption and economic cases that have received public approval and high appreciation (Giang Kim Dat case; Ha Van Tham case phase I; Chau Thi Thu Nga case; Pham Cong Danh case phase II; Dinh La Thang, Trinh Xuan Thanh and accomplices cases...).

Eliminate corrupt officials from the anti-corruption agency apparatus.

However, the General Secretary also pointed out the limitations and shortcomings such as slow inspection conclusions of some projects, the implementation of anti-corruption solutions is still formal and ineffective (such as asset declaration...); the "under the cold" situation is still common, the self-inspection stage is still weak. The coordination between some agencies is sometimes not good (allowing criminals to escape...).

Specifically outlining the key tasks for 2018, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong requested drastic direction, creating stronger and more effective changes in the work of preventing and combating corruption at the local and grassroots levels; focusing on leadership, direction, handling and effectively preventing harassment and causing trouble for people and businesses in handling work ("petty corruption"), resolutely removing corrupt and corrupt officials from the Party and State apparatus (especially in anti-corruption agencies).

The General Secretary reminded to continue to strengthen inspection, examination and auditing work, especially in areas with many negative public opinions, corruption and waste; promptly conclude inspections and strictly handle violations in projects that cause long-term losses and are of public concern.

The Head of the Central Steering Committee on Anti-Corruption requested to focus on directing the acceleration of the verification, investigation, prosecution, and trial of cases, and the handling of serious and complicated corruption and economic cases. In 2018, the investigation, prosecution, and first-instance trial of 21 cases must be completed; 21 cases and recommendations must be handled under the supervision and direction of the Steering Committee.

The national conference on anti-corruption work will also be held this year, along with the review of 5 years of implementing Regulation No. 163 of the Politburo on the work of the Steering Committee, and the 10-year review of Directive No. 15 of the 10th Politburo on the Party's leadership of law enforcement agencies in investigating and handling cases and protecting the Party.