On September 6, at the meeting of the National Assembly’s Judicial Committee on anti-corruption work in 2024, Deputy Chairman Nguyen Manh Cuong affirmed that in many cases, senior officials were found with large amounts of undeclared assets of unknown origin after being searched by the investigation agency.
According to the report of the Government Inspector General, in the first 6 months of 2024, 2,518 officials had their declarations verified, only 4 were disciplined for dishonest declaration of assets and income. The National Assembly’s Judicial Committee believes that the results of detecting and handling cases of dishonest declaration of assets and income are not yet commensurate with the actual situation.
On social networks, many people agree that asset declaration for officials that need to be monitored according to regulations has long been purely a formality, only aimed at low-level officials in the state apparatus and has not been taken seriously. Even late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong avoided it when he was alive, saying that the issue of asset declaration related to private personal information is a sensitive issue.
Just look at the recent prominent cases, about the unusual wealth of the former Chairwoman of Nhon Trach District, Dong Nai Province, Nguyen Thi Giang Huong. Huong was disciplined for “false asset declaration” after being exposed for being swindled of VND171 billion ($7 million). Or most recently, the case of former Secretary of Ben Tre, Le Duc Tho, was also disciplined and prosecuted, on the grounds of illegal wealth.
Transparency of officials’ assets is one of the important factors that determine the success of the fight against corruption in every country, including Vietnam. However, during his three terms as General Secretary, Trong did not pay the necessary attention.
That is the reason why most senior officials at all levels, from the central to local levels, are unusually rich, but there is no need to hide it.
The case of former Party Central Committee member Le Duc Tho, former Secretary of Ben Tre Provincial Party Committee, former Chairman of Vietinbank, who was recently prosecuted, is a proof. Before being probed and detained, Tho was disciplined, for not being able to explain the amount of more than VND3 trillion ($120 million) in his bank account. That is not to mention the number of shares and bonds, with a value of about VND1 trillion.
Expanding the investigation into Tho, according to the conclusion of the investigation into the case that occurred at Xuyen Viet Oil Company, by the A09 Investigation Security Department, Ministry of Public Security, Tho was probed for accepting bribes and taking advantage of his position and power to influence others for personal gain.
Accordingly, the total amount of bribes that Tho received from defendant Mai Thi Hong Hanh, leader of Xuyen Viet Oil Company, amounted to more than $1 million.
The public is asking, how many other people have declared their assets dishonestly? And hope that General Secretary To Lam needs to have a solution to thoroughly handle it.
Public opinion sees that the policy when corrupt officials are exposed, if they are members of the Central Committee level or higher, is to “proactively” ask to resign and return 2/3 of the corrupt assets, and will only be subject to administrative sanctions or internal Party discipline. This is essentially a policy to encourage corruption.
According to insiders, Secretary Le Duc Tho is a junior from Phu Tho, of former State Bank Governor Nguyen Van Binh – who after the 12th Party Congress abandoned former Prime Minister Ba Dung, to come under the command of General Secretary Trong. At the 8th Plenum of the Central Committee, Secretary Tho was eliminated by then Minister To Lam.
That is why, before General Secretary Trong passed away, there were still many questions about his responsibility, in the role of Head of the 13th Party National Congress Personnel Subcommittee, why he chose Le Duc Tho wrongly, and whether it was related to the assets worth several thousand billion of dongs due to corruption or not?
Tra My – Thoibao.de
