Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|
01HANOI3080 | 2001-11-23 09:26:00 | UNCLASSIFIED | Embassy Hanoi |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. 2001HANOI03080 - UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED PTO3505 PAGE 01 HANOI 03080 230932Z ACTION EAP-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 ACQ-00 CEA-01 CIAE-00 COME-00 CTME-00 DINT-00 ITCE-00 DOTE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 EXME-00 E-00 FAAE-00 FBIE-00 UTED-00 VC-00 FRB-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 ITC-01 JUSE-00 LAB-01 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PC-01 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 SSO-00 STR-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /010W ------------------4229AB 230933Z /38 FM AMEMBASSY HANOI TO SECSTATE WASHDC 4798 INFO AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY NSC WASHDC USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI SECDEF WASHDC |
UNCLAS HANOI 003080 |
1. SUMMARY: A PROVINCIAL COURT HANDED DOWN STIFF SENTENCES ON NOVEMBER 20 TO A DOZEN STATE EMPLOYEES AND COMPANY EXECUTIVES CONVICTED OF BRIBERY AND EMBEZZELMENT OF ANTI- POVERTY FUNDS FOR AN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT IN LAI CHAU PROVINCE. MEANWHILE, TOP LEADERS REAFFIRMED EFFORTS TO COMBAT CORRUPTION AMID WIDESPREAD PUBLIC DOUBTS ABOUT THE GVN'S COMMITMENT TO FIGHT CORRUPTION. END SUMMARY. 2. THE PROVINCIAL PEOPLE'S COURT OF LAI CHAU SENTENCED 12 STATE OFFICIALS AND COMPANY EXECUTIVES TO JAIL TERMS RANGING FROM THREE YEARS TO LIFE. THE DEFENDANTS WERE FOUND GUILTY OF EMBEZZELLING USD 586,000 FROM ANTI-POVERTY FUNDS INTENDED FOR A USD 4 MILLION ROAD BUILDING PROJECT IN AN MUONG TE DISTRICT, ONE OF THE POOREST DISTRICTS IN LAI CHAU, ITSELF AMONG THE MOST IMPOVERISHED PROVINCES IN THE COUNTRY. 3. TRAN HUNG SON, DIRECTOR OF THE STATE-OWNED ETHNIC AND MOUTAINOUS DEVELOPMENT CONSTRUCTION COMPANNY, WAS SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR EMBEZZELLEMENT AND ORDERED TO PAY USD320,000 IN COMPENSATION. LY VAN PHONG, VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE MUONG TE DISTRICT PEOPLE'S COMMITTEE, RECEIVED A THREE YEAR SUSPENDED SENTENCE FOR ACCEPTING A BRIBE OF USD2,200. TEN OTHER DEFENDANTS, INCLUDING CONSTRUCTION COMPANY EMPLOYEES, LOCAL OFFICIALS AND PRIVATE BUSINESSMEN, WERE SENTENCED TO BETWEEN THREE YEARS AND TWENTY YEARS IN PRISON. ONE OF THE ORIGINAL DEFENDANTS, NGUYEN THI THANH TUNG, FORMER HEAD OF THE LAI CHAU PROVINCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND INVESTMENT DEPARTMENT, COMMITTED SUICIDE AFTER COMING UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR DERELICTION OF DUTY. UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 HANOI 03080 230932Z 4. THE COURT TRIAL BEGAN IN LATE MAY, BUT WAS SUSPENDED AFTER SEVERAL DAYS. ACCORDING TO LOCAL NEWSPAPER ACCOUNTS, THE CONDUCT OF THE TRIAL SEEMED UNUSUALLY CONTRIVED WITH THE ACCUSED CLAIMING THAT THEY HAD BEEN SCAPEGOATED. THERE WERE ALSO REPORTS THAT THE PRESIDING JUDGE ATTEMPTED TO PREVENT THE DEFENSE LAWYERS FROM RAISING PROBING QUESTIONS ABOUT CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE BRIBERS AND THOSE BRIBED. 5. THE AUTHORITIES, ESPECIALLY COMMUNIST PARTY OF VIETNAM (CPV) GENERAL SECRETARY (GS) NONG DUC MANH, FREQUENTLY IDENTIFY CORRUPTION, ALONG WITH RED TAPE AND WASTERFUL SPENDING, AS WIDESPREAD PROBLEMS HINDERING NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT. EARLIER THIS WEEK, GS MANH ANNOUNCED A NEW ANTI- CORRUPTION ORDINANCE REQUIRING PARTY MEMBERS, STATE OFFICIALS, AND STATE EMPLOYEES TO DECLARE REAL ESTATE AND BUSINESS ASSETS. THE ORDINANCE IS ALSO INTENDED TO CLARIFY OTHER FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS FOR STATE OFFICIALS, STATE EMPLOYEES, AND PARTY MEMBERS. MANH, SPEAKING TO THE PRESS, ADDED THAT THESE DECISIONS, AS WELL AS REGULATIONS ON FINANCIAL AND BUSINESS ACTIVITIES FORBIDDEN TO PARTY MEMBERS WILL BE FINALIZED BY THE END OF THE YEAR AND COME INTO FORCE EARLY NEXT YEAR. 6. IF THE MUONG TE TRIAL IS AN INDICATION, CORRUPTION IS PERCEIVED TO RUN WIDE AND DEEP. SPEAKING AT THE JUST- CONCLUDED TRIAL, THE PRESIDING JUDGE COMMENTED, "MANY (MORE) INDIVIDUALS, BOTH FROM INSIDE AND OUTSIDE LAI CHAU PROVINCE, ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE RECEIVED BIG AMOUNTS OF MONEY FROM SON AND THIET (TWO OF THE ACCUSED)." MOST OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC ATTENTION FOCUSED ON HOW THE COURT DEALT WITH THE CASES. AFTER DELIVERING ITS VERDICT, THE COURT ANNOUNCED UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 HANOI 03080 230932Z THAT THE INVESTIGATING OFFICE WOULD CONTINUE ITS INVESTIGATIONS. THE COURT ALSO CONFIRMED THAT INVESTIGATING OFFICES RECEIVED VND 240 MILLION (USD 1,600) IN RETURNED BRIBE MONEY FROM 24 INDIVIDUALS, MANY OF THEM BELIEVED TO BE SENIOR STATE EMPLOYEES. DURING THE INVESTIGATION POLICE REPORTEDLY FOUND A NOTEBOOK BELONGING TO ONE OF THE ACCUSED CONTRACTORS LISTING BRIBES TO 117 OFFICIALS. 7. IN FEBRUARY THIS YEAR, THE VCP PUNISHED 13 MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNMENT'S ETHNIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT, INCLUDING MINISTER- CHAIRMAN HOANG DUC NGHI AND THREE VICE-CHAIRMEN, FOR "WRONGDOINGS". A FORMER VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE ALSO RECEIVED A REPRIMAND. DIFFERENT SOURCES HAVE REPORTED THAT THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY WANTED TO REMOVE NGHI FROM HIS POST. (NOTE: NGHI IS FROM THE TAY ETHNIC GROUP. HE IS VIETNAM'S LONGEST SERVING MINISTER (SINCE 1985) IS AND A CLOSE WORKING PARTNER AND PERSONAL FRIEND OF PRIME MINISTER PHAN VAN KHAI. END NOTE.) 8. COMMENT: THE ATTENTION FOCUSSED ON THE MUONG THE TRIAL AND GS MANH'S RECENT REMARKS SHOW THAT THE AUTHORITIES ARE PAYING CONSIDERABLE ATTENTION TO PUBLIC DISCONTENT ABOUT CORRUPTION. THEIR ABILITY TO EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS THE PROBLEM IS AN OPEN QUESTION. PORTER UNCLASSIFIED |