Mr. Nguyen Phu Trong speaks at the national conference of the Public Security Ministry on Jan 16. Photo: VNA
Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong was the guest of honor at the Ministry of Public Security’s year-end national conference, where he delivered an address. He said the police had done a good job of containing crime and investigating major corruption cases in 2017, adding that the fight should be just as tough and strong this year.
This is why it is necessary to ensure the Party’s absolute and comprehensive leadership of public security forces. Operations must be increased against trans-border, hi-tech, and drug crimes, and violations of laws relating to the environment, food safety, and taxation, while enhancing the effectiveness of the fight against corruption, the Party Chief stressed.
“Our main mission is to secure the direct and absolute leadership of the Party over the police force,” Mr. Trong said, who joined the seven-strong Party Standing Committee of the People’s Public Security Force, the core of Vietnam’s police force, in 2015.
The 73-year-old leader also asked the police to prevent political apathy and tighten discipline within the force. Vietnam started its mission to stamp out corruption many years ago, but it has been forging ahead “stronger than ever” in recent times, Mr. Trong said.
Corruption cases dating back years have been dealt with recently, winning widespread public attention and support, he added.
Police have helped investigate and prosecute hundreds of people for corruption, including high-ranking officials and powerful Party members.
Vietnam’s top prosecution body on January 11 called for a former Politburo member, Ho Chi Minh City Party Chief, and PetroVietnam Chairman to receive 14-15 years in prison, and a former oil executive to be sentenced to life in prison for their involvement in a massive corruption scandal at the oil giant.
The Supreme People’s Procuracy accused Dinh La Thang, former Chairman of the State-owned PetroVietnam, of “deliberately acting against State regulations on economic management, causing serious consequences”, and the former fugitive Trinh Xuan Thanh of the same charge plus embezzling property.
The trial opened on January 8 and is expected to last two weeks, taking place at the same time as a separate trial in Ho Chi Minh City where a $400 million fraud case involving the Vietnam Construction Bank (VNCB) and Sacombank is being heard.
