General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong chaired the 22nd meeting of the Central Steering Committee on anti-corruption and anti-negativity.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, Head of the Central Steering Committee on Anti-Corruption and Negativity, chaired the 22nd meeting of the Steering Committee - Photo: VNA

In the first 6 months of 2022, despite continuing to focus on preventing and fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and directing the recovery and development of the socio-economy, Party committees, Party organizations, and functional agencies have upheld their sense of responsibility and seriously implemented the Conclusion of the General Secretary, Head of the Steering Committee and the 2022 Work Program of the Steering Committee. The work of preventing and combating corruption and negativity (PCTNTC) continues to be promoted, drastically, synchronously, urgently and has new developments, strongly affirming the determination to resolutely and persistently fight to prevent and repel corruption and negativity according to the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress, notably:

1. Directing the preliminary and final review and promulgation of many major policies and guidelines on Party building and anti-corruption, creating high unity in awareness and action in the spirit of the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress.

The Steering Committee advised the Politburo to organize the largest-ever National Conference summarizing 10 years of PCTNTC work in the 2012-2022 period; with nearly 500 delegates attending the meeting in person and more than 80,000 delegates attending the meeting online at more than 4,000 points nationwide, many provinces and cities connecting to the district and commune levels. In particular, the concluding speech of the General Secretary, Head of the Steering Committee comprehensively and deeply assessed the results of PCTNTC since the establishment of the Steering Committee up to now, drawing many valuable lessons, directing many major policies and solutions on PCTNTC, creating trust, excitement, and high determination in the entire Party, people, and army to successfully implement the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress.

The Steering Committee has directed the research, development and completion of 13 important projects on anti-corruption. The Party Central Committee, the Politburo and the Secretariat issued 23 resolutions, directives, conclusions and regulations on Party building and rectification, anti-corruption, especially on the establishment of provincial anti-corruption Steering Committees, on party organization and party member discipline, the Party's inspection and supervision strategy, on the arrangement of disciplined cadres, on strengthening, consolidating and building grassroots party organizations and improving the quality of party members in the new period... The National Assembly gave opinions and passed 08 draft laws; the Government issued 59 decrees and decisions; ministries and branches issued 216 circulars and joint circulars guiding the implementation of legal provisions on socio-economic management and anti-corruption. At the same time, direct the review, amendment and supplementation of mechanisms, policies and laws related to bidding, auction, planning, management, land use, public assets, public finance, securities, corporate bonds... under the direction of the Standing Committee of the Steering Committee.

2. Directing to continue to strengthen the work of inspection, supervision, auditing; strictly handling many Party committees, Party organizations, cadres, Party members who violate the law, including high-ranking officials, incumbent and retired, continuing to strongly affirm the determination to fight corruption "without forbidden areas, without exceptions", which is highly appreciated and agreed upon by the people and public opinion.

Party committees and inspection committees at all levels have urgently and resolutely inspected and handled party organizations and party members with signs of violations. The Central Inspection Committee has focused on inspecting party organizations and party members with signs of violations related to cases and incidents under the supervision and direction of the Steering Committee. In the first 6 months of the year, party committees and inspection committees at all levels have disciplined 295 party members for corruption and intentional violations (an increase of 117 party members compared to the same period last year); the Central Executive Committee, the Politburo, the Secretariat, and the Central Inspection Committee have disciplined 27 cadres under the management of the Politburo and the Secretariat (an increase of 20 cases compared to the same period last year). Since the beginning of the term, 56 cadres under the management of the Politburo and the Secretariat have been disciplined, including 10 members and former members of the Party Central Committee.

The Inspection and Auditing sector focused on inspecting and auditing prominent areas that caused public concern; proposed to handle and recover VND 15,418 billion and 134 hectares of land; proposed to administratively handle 1,682 groups and 2,676 individuals (an increase of 831 groups and 603 individuals compared to the same period last year). Ministries, branches and localities transferred 414 cases with signs of crime to investigation agencies for investigation and handling according to the provisions of law. At the same time, strengthen management, tighten discipline, and strictly handle acts of corruption and negativity right in anti-corruption and negativity agencies; disciplined 54 cases, transferred 09 cases to criminal proceedings; prosecuted 16 cases/17 defendants for corruption and negativity in judicial activities.

The Steering Committee has organized 08 specialized inspection teams on the work of detecting, transferring, receiving, and handling denunciations and reports of crimes, recommending the prosecution of cases with signs of corruption, economic crimes, and negative crimes, and the work of appraisal and valuation of assets in the settlement of corruption, economic crimes, and negative crimes. Through the initial results report of the inspection teams, many cases with signs of corruption and negative crimes have been discovered and recommended for handling, overcoming many shortcomings and limitations in this work.

3. Directing the removal of difficulties and obstacles, promoting investigation, prosecution and trial; expanding investigation and initiating new prosecutions of many serious and complicated cases, creating new breakthroughs in detecting and handling corruption and negativity.

Since the 21st meeting of the Steering Committee, the prosecution agencies nationwide have initiated 297 new cases/682 defendants for corruption crimes (an increase of 153 cases, 298 defendants compared to the same period last year). Particularly for the cases and incidents under the supervision and direction of the Steering Committee, 08 new cases/29 defendants were initiated, 40 additional defendants were prosecuted in 12 cases; 10 cases/134 defendants were completed, 06 cases/142 defendants were completed with additional investigations; 07 cases/77 defendants were prosecuted; 05 cases/55 defendants were tried at first instance, 06 cases/53 defendants were tried at appeal. Civil enforcement agencies have recovered more than VND9,027 billion in cases under the supervision and direction of the Steering Committee (an increase of more than VND7,000 billion compared to the same period last year). The Court has promptly tried a number of key cases, including: (1) The case of "Abusing positions and powers while performing official duties" occurring at Bach Mai Hospital and a number of agencies and units; (2) The case of "Violating regulations on land management" occurring in the implementation of the Cuu Long Son Tu spiritual ecological project and the Vinh Trung river and mountain villa project in the Chin Khuc mountain area, Nha Trang city, Khanh Hoa province; (3) The case of "Lack of responsibility causing serious consequences; Abusing positions and powers while performing official duties; Trading in counterfeit medicines" occurring in Ho Chi Minh City, other provinces and cities, the Drug Administration of Vietnam - Ministry of Health and related agencies and units; (4) The case of "Abusing position and power while performing official duties; Receiving bribes" occurred at units under the Coast Guard Command and Border Guard; (5) The case of "Violating regulations on management and use of State assets causing loss and waste" occurred at Binh Duong Production and Import-Export Corporation (currently under first instance trial).

The highlight is that the central and local prosecution agencies, internal affairs and inspection agencies have closely coordinated, overcome difficulties and obstacles, focused on investigating and strictly handling many cases related to Viet A Technology Joint Stock Company; Consular Department - Ministry of Foreign Affairs; FLC Group; Tan Hoang Minh Group; International Progress Joint Stock Company (AIC) and cases and matters related to the management and use of land and state assets occurring in Ho Chi Minh City, Khanh Hoa, Binh Thuan, Binh Duong... in which many defendants were prosecuted who were high-ranking officials under the management of the Central Government; 25 cases and 95 defendants were prosecuted in relation to Viet A Company alone.

4. Urgently direct the establishment of the Provincial Steering Committee for Anti-Corruption; step up the fight against anti-corruption at the local and grassroots levels.

The Steering Committee has directed, guided, and urged provincial and municipal Party Committees to promptly decide to establish provincial-level Steering Committees on PCTNTC in accordance with Resolution of the 5th Central Conference, Session XIII, and Regulation No. 67-QD/TW, dated June 2, 2022 of the Secretariat. To date, 63/63 PCTNTC Steering Committees of provinces and cities have been established and put into operation. PCTNTC work at the local level has had positive changes; Many localities have discovered and strictly handled many corruption and negative cases, such as: Tuyen Quang (12 cases), Nghe An (11 cases), Hai Phong (10 cases), Bac Giang (09 cases), Can Tho (08 cases), Thanh Hoa (08 cases), Son La (07 cases), Phu Tho (06 cases), Hanoi (05 cases)... There are 20 localities that have prosecuted 23 cases/63 defendants related to the case that occurred at Viet A Technology Joint Stock Company.

5. Information, propaganda, dissemination and education work on PCTNTC continues to be strengthened; the role of elected bodies, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, the press and the people in PCTNTC is better promoted.

Implementing the direction of the Standing Committee of the Central Steering Committee, the Central Propaganda Department, the Central Internal Affairs Department, the Central Inspection Committee and Party committees and organizations at all levels to strengthen direction, orientation, information provision and propaganda on anti-corruption; Vietnam Television opened the column "Fighting against degradation, corruption and negativity" broadcast on VTV1 every Saturday evening; many press agencies opened the column "Fighting against corruption and negativity". The press agencies published 5,167 news, articles and reports on the outstanding results of the fight against anti-corruption.

The National Assembly and the National Assembly Standing Committee strengthened thematic supervision of the implementation of policies and laws on planning, practicing thrift, fighting waste, receiving citizens, and handling complaints and denunciations. The Vietnam Fatherland Front directed to focus on supervising areas prone to negativity and corruption; organized the fourth "National Press Award on Anti-Corruption".

6. The Steering Committee, the Standing Committee of the Steering Committee, the Steering Committee Members, the Standing Committee of the Steering Committee and the relevant agencies continue to operate in a disciplined and methodical manner, bringing about high efficiency.

The Steering Committee and the Standing Committee of the Steering Committee have made many innovations in leadership and direction methods, and their activities have become increasingly disciplined and effective. In particular, they have revised and supplemented the Working Regulations, Decisions on the assignment of tasks to members of the Steering Committee; developed and issued Regulations on the inspection and supervision work of the Steering Committee, Plans and Guidelines for the implementation of the work of preventing and combating negativity; focused on directing the removal of difficulties and obstacles, speeding up the progress of resolving cases and incidents... The members of the Steering Committee have been heads of inspection teams; actively and urgently implemented assigned tasks according to the Steering Committee's Plan; paid attention to directing, monitoring and urging the implementation of anti-corruption tasks in the sectors, fields and areas assigned to manage and be in charge. The Standing Committee of the Steering Committee and the competent agencies have made many efforts, and coordinated more closely, systematically and effectively in performing assigned tasks.

6 key tasks in the last months of 2022

The Steering Committee requested to focus on thoroughly handling cases and incidents related to: Viet A Technology Joint Stock Company; Consular Department - Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a number of related agencies; FLC Group and a number of related companies; Tan Hoang Minh Group; AIC International Progress Joint Stock Company - Photo: VNA

The Steering Committee requests Party committees, Party organizations, and functional agencies to focus on completing tasks according to the 2022 Work Program of the Steering Committee and the Conclusion of the General Secretary and Head of the Steering Committee, focusing on the following main tasks:

1. Urgently and resolutely direct the review and correction of loopholes and inadequacies in mechanisms, policies and laws related to bidding, auction, management and use of land, public assets, finance, securities, corporate bonds, construction planning, etc.; in the areas that inspection, supervision, audit, investigation, prosecution and trial delegations have recommended and proposed. Complete the development and submit to the Politburo for promulgation of regulations on power control to prevent and combat corruption according to plan.

2. Directing to speed up the progress of verification, investigation, prosecution, and trial of cases, handling serious, complicated corruption and negative cases that are of public concern. Strive to complete the investigation of 14 cases, issue indictments to prosecute 20 cases, try 25 cases at first instance, try 05 cases at appeal, complete verification, and resolve 21 cases under the monitoring and direction of the Steering Committee according to plan by the end of 2022. Especially focusing on removing difficulties and obstacles, thoroughly handling cases and incidents related to: (1) Viet A Technology Joint Stock Company; (2) The case occurred at the Consular Department - Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a number of related agencies; (3) The case occurred at FLC Group and a number of related companies; (4) The case occurred at Tan Hoang Minh Group; (5) The case occurred at AIC International Progress Joint Stock Company.

Urgently bring to trial key cases according to the Steering Committee's plan, including: (1) The case of "Giving bribes; Receiving bribes; Smuggling; Producing and trading counterfeit goods; Illegal printing, issuing and trading of invoices and documents for payment to the State budget" occurring in Dong Nai province and several other provinces and cities; (2) The case of "Manipulating the stock market" occurring at FLC Group Joint Stock Company, BOS Securities Company and related companies; (3) The case of "Violating bidding regulations causing serious consequences" occurring at Viet A Company, CDC Hai Duong and related units and localities; (4) The case of "Violating regulations on management and use of State assets causing loss and waste" occurred at Nha Trang Center 2 Project, No. 01 Tran Hung Dao, Nha Trang City"; (5) The case of "Violating regulations on land management" occurred at Nha Trang Golden Gate Project, 28E Tran Phu, Vinh Nguyen, Nha Trang City; (6) The case of "Abuse of power while performing official duties" occurred at the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Trade Cooperatives; (7) The case of "Violating regulations on management and use of State assets causing loss and waste" occurred at Tan Thuan Investment and Construction Company Limited (Tan Thuan Company); (8) The case of "Violating regulations on bidding causing serious consequences" occurred at Ho Chi Minh City Eye Hospital; (9) The case of "Smuggling; "Illegal transportation of goods and currency across the border" (The case of smuggling 51 kg of gold and illegally transporting 200,000 USD across the border) occurred in Chau Doc city, An Giang province.

3. Complete thematic inspection of leadership, direction, and organization of the work of detecting, transferring, receiving, and handling denunciations and reports of crimes, recommending prosecution of cases with signs of crimes related to corruption, economics, and negativity, and the work of appraisal and valuation of assets in resolving corruption, economics, and negativity cases and incidents.

4. Directing to continue to strengthen and improve the quality and effectiveness of inspection, supervision, auditing, focusing on areas prone to negativity, with many public opinions about corruption, negativity, prominent issues, causing social outrage, specialized areas, closed and secretive activities. Urgently complete the conclusion of the thematic inspection of the procurement of equipment, biological products, test kits, and medicines for the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic; inspecting the conversion of land use purposes from production and business land of state-owned enterprises and equitized enterprises to real estate business in the period 2011-2017 and other topics according to the Steering Committee's Plan.

5. Continue to direct the promotion and improvement of the effectiveness of propaganda and education work to raise awareness and responsibility, and persistently build a culture of integrity and non-corruption among cadres, party members and the people. Further promote the role of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, its member organizations, the press and the people in the fight against corruption. Complete the review of 5 years of implementing Regulation No. 65-QD/TW of the Secretariat on directing and orienting the provision of information and propaganda on corruption prevention.

6. Direct the Provincial Steering Committee to promptly complete the development of working regulations; assign tasks to Steering Committee members; work program; focus on directing to create stronger changes in PCTNTC work at the local and grassroots levels.

Also at this meeting, the Steering Committee gave its opinions on the Initial Results Report of 08 specialized inspection teams of the Steering Committee on the work of detecting, transferring, receiving, and handling denunciations and reports of crimes, recommending prosecution of cases with signs of crimes related to corruption, economics, and negativity, and the work of appraisal and valuation of assets in resolving corruption, economics, and negativity cases and incidents.

The Steering Committee has completed the direction of handling 07 cases and 10 incidents under the monitoring and direction of the Steering Committee because the settlement has been completed according to the provisions of law.