Particularly, I used to be instructed: “Mr. A by no means accepts cash. Simply purchase a set of golf golf equipment for him. I do know a spot that sells a set of golf golf equipment for about 80,000 USD that ‘matches’ him very nicely.”
One other beloved brother as soon as jogged my memory about having to fulfill “sister”. “If you’d like me to nod, you are able to do it via me. My brother would not care about this small factor.” This small job is a department-level place and the worth of getting her approval is just a few follow-ups and some hundred million dong spent on a non secular exercise. That is a pleasant place, however for those who’re new to it, it will price just a few hundred million extra.
I remembered these (principally pleasant and anxious) options when studying the large information concerning the trial of former Secretary of the Bac Ninh Provincial Occasion Committee Nguyen Nhan Chien. There are most likely many readers like me who don’t bear in mind a lot about different particulars of the case however are impressed with the thanks presents on this case.
Defendant Tran Van Tuynh, former Director of the Medical Development Mission Administration Board of Bac Ninh province, mentioned that through the holidays, he gave presents to his two bosses, Mr. Nguyen Nhan Chien, with a complete quantity of 1 billion VND and Former Chairman of Bac Ninh Provincial Folks’s Committee Nguyen Tu Quynh 1 billion VND.
Mr. Tuynh additionally claimed to have referred to as the Chairman of Track Hong Firm, saying one other boss was about to switch however wanted to thank him for his assist in the bidding. The Chairman of Track Hong Firm replied: “I’ll make it easier to pay 500 million VND, thanks. After we win the bid, we’ll calculate it collectively.” Mr. Tuynh took 500 million VND to donate.
Along with Mr. Tuynh’s thanks reward, Mr. Chien additionally acquired 3 billion VND from Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Nhan, former Chairwoman of the Board of Administrators and Normal Director of AIC Firm. On holidays and birthdays, “all like an image”, Mr. Chien acquired presents and cash from Mrs. Nhan price as much as 10 billion VND.
Trial of former Secretary of Bac Ninh Nguyen Nhan Chien and the defendants within the case associated to AIC Firm. Photograph: PV
Beforehand, through the Viet A venture, Mr. Phan Quoc Viet (Chairman of Viet A Firm) additionally “stopped by to thank” former Minister of Science and Expertise Chu Ngoc Anh for “supporting us in taking part within the venture and supporting us.” Very enthusiastic. If the scenario is nice, I’ll go to you once more within the close to future.” Mr. Viet didn’t come empty-handed however carried a blue reward bag (with 200,000 USD inside, equal to greater than 4.6 billion VND) disguised with just a few masks and bottles of hand sanitizer.
Mr. Chu Ngoc Anh simply mentioned softly “Thanks” and put the reward bag in a nook of the workplace. Nonetheless receiving “thanks” presents of a minimum of 14 billion VND, however former Secretary of the Bac Ninh Provincial Occasion Committee Nguyen Nhan Chien nonetheless couldn’t distinguish between bribes, regular presents, and thanks presents. “After I gave Nhan a present, he at all times mentioned it was a Tet reward, typically it was a birthday reward, a September 2 reward, after which once I retired, Nhan additionally mentioned he did not know what to purchase, so I took the cash to purchase one thing for you,” he instructed the courtroom. .
Again to my story, earlier “initiatives” all failed as a result of I neither had cash nor had the mindset to “run issues”…
It looks as if giving presents on sure events: Boss’s birthday, holidays, Tet, demise anniversary of 4 dad and mom, even “my boy’s birthday”, October twentieth reward for sister… has turn into a “custom”. ” at some companies. This story is buzzing right here and there. Solely when C02 (Financial Police Division) “bought concerned” did public opinion see that the rumors turned out… to be true.
The Legislation on Prevention and Fight of Corruption, Decree 59/2019/ND-CP stipulates that individuals with positions and powers will not be allowed to immediately or not directly obtain presents in any type from companies, organizations, models and people associated to the work they deal with or inside their scope of administration.
Presents will not be simply envelopes (i.e. cash) however will also be artifacts, companies… The Penal Code has provisions prohibiting giving or receiving bribes of two million VND or extra.
However there should even be a protection for the officers, proper? The primary is cultural custom. In Japanese international locations generally and Vietnam particularly influenced by Confucianism, the custom of respecting superiors, elders, folks in authority or the custom of giving presents remains to be very talked-about. It is unusual to not have a present in your boss daily, particularly through the Lunar New Yr. It is unusual that different folks have presents that we do not have. It is unusual if somebody offers you an enormous reward, however for those who do not give it in proportion, it is unusual…
There are additionally many instances the place the boss cannot settle for it or not. An previous relationship, a childhood buddy, a highschool trainer. Many individuals think about it unrelated to work as a result of the bosses must take care of it or are throughout the scope of administration.
There are presents which might be simple to “scale back to rice” like former Secretary of the Ben Tre Provincial Occasion Committee Le Duc Tho acquired from the chief of Xuyen Viet Oil 200,000 USD (equal to greater than 4.5 billion VND); 1 Patek Philippe watch price 421,000 USD (equal to greater than 9.8 billion VND); A Mercedes Benz S450 Luxurious automobile price greater than 6.6 billion VND…
However there are additionally presents which might be troublesome to find out the worth equivalent to the acquisition of a business residence at full worth, service vouchers, golf tickets… Or an Indochina portray (work by well-known artists from the Dong Duong Advantageous Arts Faculty). Duong – NV) How a lot does it price to purchase illegally from overseas or purchase it domestically?
As analyzed above, giving and receiving presents on Tet holidays is troublesome to fully ban. Ought to there be rules on presents for civil servants on Tet holidays? We are able to take the instance of Korea’s Anti-Corruption rules.
Korean legislation clearly stipulates instances through which presents can’t be accepted, and presents which might be agricultural merchandise or aquatic merchandise (containers of fruit, meat or fish, are widespread vacation presents in Korea however doesn’t embody salt or processed meals).
Creator of the article, journalist Tran Anh Tu. Photograph: DV
The Anti-Corruption Act makes some exceptions, together with for meals and presents offered to facilitate a relationship or as a courtesy (however not when there’s a “matter of pending direct processing”). The worth restrict for meals is roughly $25 and the restrict for presents is roughly $41.
Nevertheless, what’s extra necessary is every civil servant himself. As an individual with authority, skilled coaching, and political coaching, every civil servant can decide for himself what’s a daily Tet reward and what’s a present to “pave the way in which” for one thing that requires assist, intervention. Holding a sure place, a civil servant should pay attention to how and from whom accepting presents is a violation.
Right here, the accountability of the chief is essential. When the chief resolutely “says no”, it’s troublesome for a subordinate, together with a deputy, to dare to “cross the crimson line”. The company I work for is an instance.
And eventually, I believe, it’s time to construct a tradition of integrity, free from corruption, waste, and negativity amongst officers, social gathering members and other people, creating a robust unfold in society as directed by the Normal Secretary. To Lam’s letter on the standing assembly of the Central Steering Committee on stopping and combating corruption, waste and negativity on October 30.
At this assembly, the Normal Secretary additionally emphasised: “We should make the observe of integrity, not corruption, waste, and negativity turn into a ‘voluntary’, ‘voluntary’ job like ‘meals and water’. drink, garments to put on daily'”.
Constructing a tradition of integrity and training integrity should be a motion deployed at State companies. Particular implementation comes with rules and sanctions. Solely then will we now not learn information tales about officers who can not distinguish thank-you presents from bribes. Or officers innocently say “Thanks” when receiving a big sum of cash of many billions of dong.
