More than 900 state officials and employees were investigated by police for corruption and abuse of power in 2022, according to Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security.
The ministry presented the number of corruption cases this year at the 78th National Conference on Public Security in Hanoi on Monday, state media reported.
Deputy Public Security Minister Lt. Gen. Tran Quoc To praised the police force, saying they had successfully completed all the tasks assigned by the Communist Party, which launched a crackdown on the corrupt members in 2016.
According to the report, the police also dealt with 5,300 cases of economic mismanagement, investigated more than 33,800 crimes related to social unrest and dismantled 590 organized crime gangs.
The report does not mention the numerous claims on social media that police have taken bribes, beaten people and tortured detainees.
The ministry held a press conference on Monday afternoon to give more information on serious cases including Viet A, AIC and Van Thinh Phat.
He said 102 people were under investigation in connection with the Viet A COVID-19 test kit scandal in which the health company won a contract to sell COVID-19 test kits to hospitals. with a markup of 45% after bribing officials.
In the case of Advanced International Joint Stock Company (AIC), the ministry said eight people, including the company’s former chairwoman Nguyen Thi Thanh Nhan, escaped arrest, but prosecutors still plan to bring charges. the case in court on Wednesday.
The defendants are accused of violating regulations to win 16 bids to supply medical equipment to Dong Nai General Hospital for a profit of VND150 billion ($6.3 million). Nhan and AIC Deputy Director General Tran Manh Ha were also charged with corruption.
The ministry said 27 people were arrested in connection with the Van Thinh Phat Holdings Group case. Among them is company president Truong My Lan, accused of illegally issuing bonds worth tens of millions of US dollars in 2018 and 2019 to secure prime real estate in Ho Chi Minh City.
Translated by FRG Vietnamese. Written in English by Mike Firn.