VietNamNet Bridge – Fewer corruption cases were detected in the first half of 2009 compared to the previous year. However, prosecutions lag.

Eight key corruption cases originating in 2007 remain unfinished, including the PMU18 and the Bai Chay bridge project scandals.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on July 8 chaired a meeting of the Anti-corruption Central Steering Committee to review the fight against corruption in the first half of 2009 and discuss plans for the second half.

The committee heard reports that to deter corruption, officials in six ministries and 16 provinces and cities have been shuffled among posts. In Dong Nai province to the east of HCM City, 355 officials were moved; 219 shifted posts in Thai Nguyen, north of Hanoi, and 182 received new responsibilities in the central coast province of Quang Binh.

The implementation of an order to senior officials to declare personal assets has been slow. So far, asset declarations by only 103 officials have been verified. None have been judged irregular.

115 cases of corruption by senior officials were reported in six ministries and 11 provinces in the first six months of 2009. The Government Inspectorate released results of audits at eight state-owned groups and government agencies. In all, it discovered wrong-doings involving over 11 trillion dong (about $640 million) and 21,500 shares.

Government inspectors proposed the imposition of administrative sanctions on 11 agencies and 24 individuals and suggested investigation units continue to probe into three other cases.

Meanwhile, inspectors from ministries, sectors and localities conducted 6,909 inspections, proposing administrative sanctions on 275 agencies and over 1,000 individuals and transferring 26 cases and 33 people to investigative units for further examination.

Authorities at six ministries and sectors and 11 provinces and cities dealt with 115 heads of organisations involved in corruption.

Hanoi and HCM City again had the highest numbers of incidents, with 22 corruption cases and 44 defendants in Hanoi and 22 cases, 70 defendants in HCM City.

Eight key corruption cases originating in 2007 remain unfinished, including the PMU18 and the Bai Chay bridge project scandals. Ten other cases are moving to completion, including the Project 112 and the case at the Agriculture and Rural Development Bank.

Huynh Ngoc Si, former deputy director of the HCM City Transportation Department, has not yet been prosecuted. He is charged with bribe-taking.

After hearing the committee’s report, PM Nguyen Tan Dung confirmed that positive results were achieved in the anti-corruption fight in the past six months. Those involved in major corruption cases discovered recently have been strictly punished.

However, the prime minister continued, there are weaknesses in anti-corruption efforts, in particular the slow implementation of orders to officials to declare their personal assets and concerning reviews of land management. Suspected cases of corruption should be handled more swiftly. There are issues concerning the culpability of managers who have allowed corruption to take place in their units.

Dung emphasised that reforming administrative procedures and operating the Government and business in a transparent and open manner are essential deterrents to corruption.

He asked inspection agencies to focus particularly on monitoring the management and use of land, investment and construction, natural resource management, the settlement of long-standing petitions and complaints, and the use of the government’s stimulus packages.

VietNamNet/TTXVN/DT