Courts show strong performance in handling economic, corruption cases: Chief Justice
The number of cases handled by People’s Courts at all levels so far this year has risen 7.73% over the same period in 2023, while the number of cases solved has increased 8.4%, reported Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Court Le Minh Tri at the National Assembly (NA)’s eighth session on November 26.
Tri said that rate of court decisions being overturned or amended due to judicial errors was 0.77%, a decrease of 0.12% compared to the previous year, meeting the NA’s expectations.
He noted that along with trial work, courts have had to balance their judicial functions with promoting mediation, dialogue in courts, and conducting online trials, while continuing judicial reforms under the Party Central Committee's Resolution 27-NQ/TW on continuing to build and perfect the socialist rule-of-law State, and preparing for the implementation of the Law on Organisation of the People's Courts (revised), which will take effect on January 1, 2025.
Tri emphasised that the courts have handled many high-profile economic, corruption, and misconduct cases, especially those under the supervision of the Steering Committees on Prevention and Control of Corruption, Wastefulness and Negative Phenomena at central and provincial levels, and cases with extremely large losses and causing social anger.
He affirmed that the courts have imposed strict punishments on those who orchestrated large-scale embezzlement and misused their official positions.
The Chief Justice said that in 2025, the court system will focus on strengthening political education, ethics, and organisational discipline across the sector, while improving the efficiency and quality of trial work to meet the targets set by the NA.
He proposed that the NA Standing Committee enhance legal guidance and interpretation to ensure consistent application of laws in trial work, and speed up the completion of ongoing bills.
Also delivering a report at the NA session, Prosecutor General of the Supreme People's Procuracy Nguyen Huy Tien said that the prosecution sector has met or exceeded all major targets set by the NA for 2024.
This included receiving and handling 165,377 crime reports, reaching 100%, issuing over 120,000 documents to request investigation and verification of crime reports, and requesting the initiation of legal procedures on 961 cases, up 21.6%. Procuracy agencies at all levels exercised prosecution rights in 142,946 cases involving 231,614 defendants (up 6.3% and 10.7% respectively) and oversaw 100% of criminal cases since the initiation of legal proceedings.
The Prosecutor General highlighted the procuracy’s effective collaboration with the Ministry of Public Security and the Supreme People's Court to expedite investigations, prosecutions, and trials in major economic and corruption cases. Through these efforts, more than VND26.21 trillion (US$1.03 billion) had been recovered in these cases, he noted.
He recommended that the NA Standing Committee allow the recruitment of more prosecutors to meet the growing demand.
Meanwhile, according to a report presented by General Luong Tam Quang, Minister of Public Security, in 2024, the public order-related crime situation continued to be complex, with a 12.53% increase in cases. The rate of investigation and settlement of these crimes reached 83.48%, surpassing the NA’s target by 8.48%.
Crimes related to corruption, economics, and smuggling also increased, with a 20.55% rise in corruption and abuse of power cases, while crimes related to economic management saw a decrease of 2.4%, and smuggling cases rose by 8.25%.
High-tech crime number continued to increase, with new methods and tactics. Authorities have blocked over 23,500 websites and social media accounts engaged in illegal activities and initiated legal proceedings in 1,521 cases, involving 658 suspects.
Drug-related crimes continued to be a complicated problem, with numerous large-scale international trafficking rings dismantled and significant drug hotspots neutralised, General Quang stated.
To improve crime prevention, the minister emphasised the importance of timely information gathering, analysing and forecasting, along with drastic suppression of crimes. He highlighted the increased application of science and technology to enhance crime-fighting efforts.
Also at the session, General Inspector of the Government Inspectorate Doan Hong Phong reported on the progress of anti-corruption measures in 2024, highlighting the high level of political determination and important results shown by relevant ministries, agencies and localities.
However, Phong pointed to a number of shortcomings and limitations in the work, stressing the need for further improvement of mechanisms, policies and laws as a prevention measure. He also noted the importance of enhancing the responsibility of those who hold the top positions in agencies, organisations and localities, reinforcing administrative discipline, strengthening inspections and audits in areas with a high risk of corruption, and speeding up investigations into high-profile cases.
