Up to 15 high-ranking officers in the security forces and four in the military have been disciplined or faced legal troubles as the Communist Party of Vietnam intensifies efforts to crack down on corruption and backward sliding and regain its legitimacy. 
From left to right: Bui Van Nam, Tran Viet Tan, Phan Van Vinh, Nguyen Thanh Hoa
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Back in the beginning of the year, Major General Tran Quoc Cuong, former head of the Ministry of Public Security (MPS)’s General Department of Politics, was disciplined in April for allowing businesses to mobilize capital for a property project in Hanoi that swindled a large amount of money.
In July, seven officers of the MPS received warnings for their mismanagement and involvement in managing and leasing public assets and security land. The seven officers are inclusive of Lieut. General Le Van Minh, Lieut. Gen Bui Xuan Son, Lieut. Gen Bui Van Thanh, Lieut. Gen Nguyen Van Chuyen, Lieut. Gen Ksor Nham, Lieut. Gen Vu Thuat, and Senior Lieut. Gen Tran Viet Tan. Some of them were degraded and dismissed.
In the same month, Senior Lieut. Gen Phuong Minh Hoa and Lieut. Gen Nguyen Van Thanh from the Ministry of Defense were disciplined with warning level for their violations in approving a property project. Meanwhile, Major Gen Phan Tan Tai was disciplined for involving in a land project.
In October, Lieut. Gen Phan Van Vinh and Major General Nguyen Thanh Hoa were expuled from the Party for covering up the biggest-ever disclosed online gambling ring.
The latest disciplines were made by the Party’s Central Inspection Commission during its 32nd meeting ended on Dec 6.
Accordingly, three officers in the police forces and one in the military would be warned for their violations in a multi-dollar online gambling ring and a road project.
The four include Lieut. General Nguyen Cong Son, former deputy head of Police Department (under the Ministry of Public Security), Lieut. General Nguyen Van Ba, former deputy head of Police Department, and Le Dinh Nhuong, former head of Police Department’s Office, and Major General Dang Ngoc Nghia, member of the National Assembly’s Committee for Defense and Security.
In the same month, Major. Generals Nguyen Huy Ma and Nguyen Duc Thinh from the police force also received disciplines.
Obviously, the majority of officers have been punished for their involvements in land issues. According to foreign-invested property consulting companies, Vietnam is among countries having the highest land prices, especially in major cities.
The disciplined figures include incumbent and former officers even their violations happened years ago, showing the party and state’s determination in reshuffles.
