What has the 'measure of corruption' revealed in Vinh Phuc?

It wasn't until everything was revealed in the investigation's conclusions that people realized the self-assessment of corruption in Vinh Phuc had been painted a rosy picture.

In March 2024, following the arrest of Hoang Thi Thuy Lan, former Secretary of the Vinh Phuc Provincial Party Committee, along with several other provincial officials, public opinion raised numerous questions about the results of the annual Anti-Corruption Assessment (PACA Index).

According to published self-assessment results, Vinh Phuc consistently ranks among the top 25 out of 63 provinces and cities nationwide in effectively combating corruption. In 2022, with 77.95 out of 100 points, Vinh Phuc province ranked first nationwide in the results of its anti-corruption and anti-negative practices efforts.

Ms. Hoang Thi Thuy Lan, former Secretary of the Vinh Phuc Provincial Party Committee.

It wasn't until the truth was revealed in the Ministry of Public Security 's investigation into the Hau "fireworks" mega-case that people were shocked by the extent of corruption among some high-ranking officials in Vinh Phuc province, along with the immense power and deceit of Ms. Hoang Thi Thuy Lan, the former Provincial Party Secretary.

While serving as Secretary of the Vinh Phuc Provincial Party Committee, Ms. Hoang Thi Thuy Lan made very impressive and decisive statements on the fight against corruption.

For example, Ms. Hoang Thi Thuy Lan once requested that agencies, units, and localities proactively inspect the work of preventing and combating corruption and negative practices within their respective agencies and units in order to promptly prevent corruption and negative practices from occurring early and from afar.

Ms. Hoang Thi Thuy Lan also requested that Party committees and organizations at all levels implement specific tasks to effectively combat corruption and negative practices, build a clean and strong Party and government, ensure continuous socio -economic development, and improve the material and spiritual lives of the people.

But when the mask fell, Hoang Thi Thuy Lan revealed her true nature as a "big worm" with an appalling level of embezzlement and corruption. In the major Hau "Pháo" case, Hoang Thi Thuy Lan was accused of receiving bribes totaling nearly 50 billion VND.

The investigation report also revealed the immense power wielded by Ms. Hoang Thi Thuy Lan while she was the Provincial Party Secretary. With just one directive from Ms. Lan, the land use fee that Phuc Son Group had to pay for the wholesale market project was adjusted from 708 billion VND down to 507 billion VND, causing a loss of approximately 200 billion VND to the State.

On one occasion, when Hoàng Thị Thuý Lan summoned Nguyễn Văn Hậu (aka Hậu “Pháo”) to her private residence, she simply raised one index finger of her right hand and said, “I have something to discuss; prepare one million US dollars immediately.” By early afternoon of the same day, Hậu “Pháo” had brought one million USD to bribe Ms. Lan.

In this case, Mr. Le Duy Thanh, former Chairman of Vinh Phuc province, is also accused of receiving bribes four times, totaling 20 billion VND and 1.3 million USD from Phuc Son Group.

The "firecracker" scheme also gave Mr. Pham Hoang Anh five times, from the time he was Director of the Department of Construction until he became the Standing Deputy Secretary of the Vinh Phuc Provincial Party Committee, a total of 5.4 billion VND and 700,000 USD.

In addition, many other officials in Vinh Phuc province are accused of receiving bribes to facilitate the Phuc Son Group, including: Nguyen Van Khuoc, former Vice Chairman of the province; Hoang Van Nhiem, former Deputy Director of the Provincial Department of Finance; Chu Quoc Hai, former Deputy Director of the Provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment; Dinh Thi Thu Huong, former Head of the Land Price and Compensation and Resettlement Department, Land Management Sub-Department, Vinh Phuc Provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment…

It is evident that, in just one case involving a wholesale market project, leaders of Vinh Phuc province, from the Provincial Party Secretary to the Provincial Chairman, Vice Chairman, and Directors and Deputy Directors of several departments assigned to the task, have been "hit by sugar-coated bullets," engaging in embezzlement, corruption, and accepting bribes to serve the interests of their group.

However, through deception, clever cover-ups, and reports embellished by corrupt individuals, the annual self-assessment of provincial-level anti-corruption efforts has placed Vinh Phuc – a locality with a horrific number of corrupt officials – among the top in the country for many years in terms of anti-corruption work.

They thought they could cover the sky with their actions, but little did they know that "the net of heaven is vast, though its meshes are wide, nothing can escape it." With the serious violations revealed in the investigation's conclusions, they will soon have to pay a very heavy price for what they have done.

According to published self-assessment results, Vinh Phuc consistently ranks among the top 25 out of 63 provinces and cities nationwide in effectively combating corruption. In 2022, with 77.95 out of 100 points, Vinh Phuc province ranked first nationwide in the results of its anti-corruption and anti-negative practices efforts.

Hoang Hai

Source: https://congthuong.vn/thuoc-do-tham-nhung-da-thay-gi-tai-vinh-phuc-379220.html