Handling officials and party members who violate the law: Creating consensus, strengthening trust

The number of cases and suspects of economic and official corruption crimes investigated by the provincial police in 2023 increased compared to 2022. The handling of violators who are cadres and party members was carried out strictly and cautiously by the functional agencies, creating consensus in the political system and the people.

The provincial Party's internal affairs sector has just held a conference to review internal affairs, anti-corruption, negativity and judicial reform work in 2023. Photo: N.D

The Provincial Party Committee's Internal Affairs Committee affirmed that the work of preventing and combating corruption and negativity in the past year has received attention and has been gradually expanded to the non-state sector; solutions to prevent and combat corruption and negativity have been focused on and well implemented; focusing on directing, handling and resolving corruption and economic cases in accordance with the law.

Get involved

In early 2023, a case of law violation in the implementation of 4 bidding packages for the procurement of educational equipment in 2020 at the Department of Education and Training of Tay Giang district was discovered. The investigation agency of the provincial police prosecuted and issued an order to temporarily detain the former accountant of the Department of Education and Training of Tay Giang district and two company directors for bribery and receiving bribes of more than 1.5 billion VND for investigation and clarification.

According to the report of the Provincial Party Committee's Internal Affairs Committee, in 2023, the provincial police investigation agency investigated 20 cases/49 defendants for crimes of economic and official corruption. Of which, in 2022, 9 cases/10 defendants were transferred, 11 new cases/39 defendants were prosecuted (an increase of 2 cases/28 defendants compared to 2022). The investigation was completed and transferred to the People's Procuracy at the same level for 7 cases/18 defendants; 13 cases/31 defendants were continued to be investigated.

Regarding this incident, according to Mr. Zoram Buon - Standing Deputy Secretary of Tay Giang District Party Committee, the Standing Committee of the District Party Committee did not give any policy or separate instructions on the implementation of 4 bidding packages for purchasing educational equipment in 2020 at the District Department of Education and Training.

However, before each new school year, the Standing Committee of the District Party Committee assigns the District People's Committee to direct units and localities to focus on inspecting school facilities, repairing damage, and purchasing and supplementing equipment to effectively serve teaching and learning.

The implementation of 4 bidding packages for the procurement of educational equipment in 2020 at the Department of Education and Training of Tay Giang district all applied the form of bidding and competitive bidding via the Internet; ensuring the process, procedures, and implementation process in accordance with the provisions of the law on bidding.

"The violations of individuals, officials, and party members who receive gifts, commissions, or bribes from businesses are due to the lack of awareness of officials and party members," said Mr. Buon.

After the incident was discovered, the Standing Committee of Tay Giang District Party Committee directed the District Party Committee's Inspection Committee to establish a team to inspect party members when there were signs of violations against comrades Arat Blui - Vice Chairman of the District People's Committee (requested to review and gain experience at the Party cell), Le Kim Van - Party cell Secretary, Head of the District Department of Education and Training (requested competent authorities to consider and handle disciplinary action) and to enforce disciplinary action against the District Education and Training Party Cell.

Along with that, the leaders and the District Party Committee's Inspection Commission were directed to inspect and discipline Mr. Nguyen Duc Thuan - Party member of the District Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, former accountant of the District Department of Education and Training, by expelling him from the Party for accepting bribes.

"After receiving the conclusion from the competent authority, the Standing Committee of the District Party Committee will lead and direct the organization of review, handle the responsibility of relevant collectives and individuals according to regulations and promptly direct the remediation of the consequences," Mr. Buon affirmed.

Regarding this incident, the Provincial Party Committee's Inspection Commission is reviewing and disciplining individuals according to its authority. The Provincial Police Department's Investigation Agency is continuing to investigate and clarify the matter.

Handle with caution and care

Sharing the results of investigation and handling of corruption, economic and negative cases at the conference summarizing the work of the Party's internal affairs sector on December 20, the leader of the Provincial Police said that in 2023, the Provincial Police force prosecuted and investigated 18 cases/38 defendants who were cadres and party members; of which 17 defendants who were cadres and party members were temporarily detained.

Before deciding to prosecute the accused, the provincial and district police investigation agencies reported and asked for opinions (in writing) from the unit and local Party Committees and conducted investigation activities in accordance with regulations. The police investigation agencies at all levels executed 17 arrest warrants and searched the residences and workplaces of officials and party members who committed crimes.

Within 24 hours of executing the arrest warrant, conducting a search or receiving a cadre or party member caught red-handed, the investigation agency shall notify the Party Committee, head of the agency or unit where the cadre or party member committed the crime in accordance with Directive No. 26 dated November 9, 2018 of the Politburo and Instruction No. 04 dated December 9, 2020 of the Secretariat on strengthening the Party's leadership over law enforcement agencies in the investigation and handling of cases and incidents.

At the same time, upon receiving notice from the investigation agency, the Party Committee, Party organization, and head of the agency or unit whose cadre or Party member violated the law or committed a crime must promptly notify the investigation agency in writing of the results of the handling, such as suspension from office or suspension from Party activities to serve the investigation requirements.

Colonel Nguyen Ha Lai - Deputy Director of the Provincial Police Department affirmed that in the process of leading and directing the investigation activities of the entire Provincial Police force, the Provincial Police Party Committee consistently directed that it must strictly comply with the provisions of the law and the spirit of Directive No. 26 and Instruction No. 04.

During the investigation and handling of cases and incidents committed by cadres and party members or related to cadres and party members, the investigation agencies at all levels in the Provincial Police must report to the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial Police Party Committee and the Standing Committee of the local Party Committee for guidance.

Thanks to that, the handling of violators who are cadres and party members is always comprehensive, careful, strict, creating consensus in the political system and the people, contributing to strengthening the people's trust in the Party.

“Strictly implementing Directive No. 26 and Instruction No. 04, the Provincial Police Party Committee directs the police of units and localities to continue to conduct comprehensive basic investigations in all areas, especially sensitive areas that are prone to violations and violations of anti-corruption laws, in order to proactively advise local Party committees and authorities on effective preventive solutions.

Along with that, promptly detect and handle crimes and law violations when they first arise; do not let the situation of cadres and party members violating the law for a long time before being discovered, causing serious consequences and bad public opinion among the people" - Colonel Nguyen Ha Lai emphasized.

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