Long jail terms handed to Vietnam officials in major graft case
As many as 37 people, mostly government officials, were
handed stiff prison terms in a major corruption case in southern
Vietnam's Dong Thap province, the official press said.
The former head of a petroleum company was sentenced to
life, his deputy received a 20 year term and 35 others received
sentences ranging up to 15 years, the communist party daily
Nhan Dan (People) said.
They were convicted of handling smuggled goods and receiving
bribes after importing 45,000 tonnes of oil from neighbouring
Cambodia between 1992 and 1995.
Their trial ended Friday, capping a month-long hearing at the
provincial people's court, Nhan Dan said.
The case led to millions of dollars in lost revenue and corrupted
many local officials, the Thanh Nien (Youth) daily said.
Several former top officials of the province are being investigated for "lacking in responsibility," the daily added.
Corruption costs hundreds of millions of dollars every year in Vietnam, with the public regularly denouncing the
"national curse".
Agence France Presse - June 29, 2002.
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