National Assembly debates crime, corruption fight

Investigation agencies at all levels detected more than 57,460 social order violations involving 89,440 people in 2015, according to a Government report presented at the October 28 working session of the 13th National Assembly’s 10th session.

Although the figures represent year-on-year decreases of 5.63 percent in the number of cases and 9.13 percent in the number of violators, brutal murders motivated by social purposes have risen, plaguing public security.

Crimes relating to weapons and explosives as well as gambling have been popular in many localities, the report said.

Besides, 1,415 violations of economic management regulations were brought to light with 2,232 people involved. Most of them took advantage of loopholes in economic State management, especially in the fields of investment, infrastructure construction and real estate, to swindle to business assets.

Many abused their power or position to acquire property, conduct trade fraud and form smuggling rings that caused losses to State budget collections and affected production, public health and the environment.

The National Assembly Committee for Judicial Affairs praised efforts by the Government, the Supreme People’s Court and the Supreme People’s Procuracy in preventing and countering legal violations and crimes, investigating, prosecuting, judging and executing decisions.

However, the committee said, the report failed to cover all areas of socio-economic life; identify the responsibility of ministries, agencies and localities in the combat; and propose countermeasures to crimes with foreign elements or those emerging during international integration.

At the working session, Inspector General Huynh Phong Tranh delivered a report on corruption prevention on behalf of the Prime Minister.

The inspection sector has uncovered 100 corruption-related cases so far this year with a total appropriated amount of 40.7 billion VND (1.83 million USD).

Notably, more than 505 billion VND (22.7 million USD) was reclaimed, or nearly 56 percent of 950 billion VND (42.75 million USD) in losses caused by corruption, the report said.

The report explained that asset reclamation has remained stagnant since the investigation process requires substantial amounts of time to verify and collect evidence.-VNA