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Jan 31, 2019 / 12:06

Two police generals sentenced to prison as anti-corruption drive intensifies

Bringing to justice high-ranking armed force officers somewhat indicates Vietnam’s efforts to regain people’s trust in the political system.

A court in Vietnam’s capital city of Hanoi has sentenced two former police officers to up to three years in jail, indicating the country’s determination on fighting against corruption led by President Nguyen Phu Trong. 
 
Defendants at the court ended on January 30. Photo: VNS
Defendants at the court ended on January 30. Photo: VNS
Lieutenant General Bui Van Thanh, 60, and Senior Lieut. General Tran Viet Tan, 64, were given 30 and 36 months behind bars, respectively, for influence peddling and disclosure of state secrets. 

Anyone who is charged with this crime under the Penal Code would face a punishment up to 12 years behind bars. 

The pair were accused of making decisions that had allowed Phan Van Anh Vu-led company to take public land without open bidding, causing a loss worth VND1.15 trillion (US$50 million) to the state budget. 

Tran Viet Tan was one deputy minister of Public Security and head of the ministry's Intelligence body. Vu, aka Vu nhom, was recruited as an intelligence agent between 2009 and 2017.

Two other senior police officers were also sentenced to 11 and 12 years in prison for “deliberate disclosing state confidential information” charges.