Hanoi police in 2008 reported 24 corruption cases which incurred losses of more than VND542 billion ($31.88 million), reported the Hanoi Steering Board for Combating Corruption.

Photo: corbis.com

The 24 cases involved 45 persons. Of them, 20 were accused of embezzlement, 3 of taking bribes, 2 of bribery, 11 of abuse of power in service, and nine of abuse of power to appropriate assets.

These people caused losses of over VND542 billion. By the end of 2008, over $9.6 million had been reclaimed.

Hanoi police are investigating 38 other corruption cases, with 78 defendants. Most of them are accused of embezzlement.

Also in 2008, the People’s Procuracy at all levels in Hanoi prosecuted 65 defendants for corruption. Courts at all levels in the city tried 31 corruption cases, totalling 119 defendants.

Hanoi’s inspectors conducted 348 inspections in 2008, detecting violations associated with over VND50.3 billion ($2.94 million), 674ha of agricultural land and over 1,000sq.m of housing land. By the end of 2008, VND47 billion ($2.76 million) had been got back.

Hoang Huy