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 outlined the number of corruption cases this year at the 78th National Public Security Conference in Hanoi on Monday, State media reported.
Deputy Minister of Public Security Senior Lt. Gen Tran Quoc To praised the police force, saying it had successfully completed all tasks assigned by the Communist Party, which launched a crackdown on corrupt members in 2016.
According to the report, police also handled 5,300 cases of economic mismanagement, investigated more than 33,800 crimes related to social unrest, and dismantled 590 organized crime gangs.
The report did not mention the numerous claims on social networks that police officers had taken bribes, beaten people and tortured detainees.
The ministry held a news conference on Monday afternoon to give more information about serious cases including Viet A, AIC and Van Thinh Phat.
It said 102 people are being investigated in connection with the Viet A COVID-19 test kit scandal in which the health company won a contract to sell COVID-19 testing kits to hospitals at a 45% markup 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, have evaded arrest but prosecutors still plan to bring the case to trial on Wednesday.
The defendants are charged with violating regulations to win 16 bids to provide medical equipment to Dong Nai General Hospital at a profit of VND150 billion (U.S.$6.3 million). Nhan and AIC Deputy General Director Tran Manh Ha have also been charged with bribery.
The ministry said 27 people have been detained in connection with the Van Thinh Phat Holdings Group case. They include company chairwoman Truong My Lan, who is accused of illegally issuing bonds worth tens of millions of U.S. dollars in 2018 and 2019 to obtain prime real estate in Ho Chi Minh City.
Translated by RFA Vietnamese. Written in English by Mike Firn.